Christian Devotional - The Sword

“Choose your weapon!”




These words usually precede some sort of duel, often shown in movies and such. The opponents then pick their preferred method of attack and proceed to see who will win the battle. Usually the person who has chosen the best weapon AND who is able to wield that weapon with the most skill and accuracy is the one who wins. As we’ve studies about the Armor of God, we’ve looked at all the defensive armor. Now, we’re going to take a look at the final piece, the offensive weapon of attack, the sword.






Ephesians 6:13-17 “Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.”




As mentioned above for people who are getting ready to duel, there are two considerations when preparing for battle: the choice of weapon and the ability to use that weapon. When it comes to choosing the weapon, we really have only one real choice. God has given us the Sword of the Spirit. This is the Word of God. Our Bible, which contains the precious word of God is our weapon for not only defending ourselves, but for also attacking against the forces of the evil one. So how effective is this weapon? Hebrews 4:12 says “for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”




Bottom line: The Word of God is by far the most effective and precise weapon that we could ever imagine. The Greek word that is used in this verse in Hebrews refers to the accuracy of a surgical scalpel. Used correctly, the Bible can be as accurate and effective as surgical equipment in the hands of a master surgeon. However, just because someone has an effective scalpel doesn’t necessarily mean I want them to perform my surgery. I want to know that they can effectively use that weapon.




Not everyone is a master swordsman when it comes to using the Bible. The best example from the Bible would be Peter. In John 18:10, “Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear.” Peter had a sword, but somehow, when he was in the moment looking at the situation, I have to believe he meant to defend His Savior with something more heroic than simply cutting off the slave’s ear. You can almost see this scene as slightly comical as Peter probably yells ferociously, grabs the sword and lifts it high, then swings, expecting to leave carnage in his wake as he opens up the way for Jesus to escape. He then looks up and he has only cut off someone’s ear, and not even the ear of one of the leaders. He took up a sword, but didn’t exactly use it with skill or accuracy.






Peter’s a fisherman, not a swordsman. I’m not even sure why he was carrying a sword. If we’re not careful, we as Christians can choose the right weapon, but just take it and start swinging it around with no skill or training. Bible verses get taken out of context, truth is shared without love and eventually people get butchered instead of the precise and skillful cuts of a surgeon. Used correctly and as it is intended, the Sword of the Spirit is as beneficial to people as life-saving surgery. Used incorrectly, the Bible can leave huge gaping wounds in the hearts of people.




Now, Peter learned to wield the sword of the Spirit extremely effective later in his life, and that should give all of us hope that we can learn to be master swordsmen (and swordswomen) who use the sword of the Spirit effectively and efficiently. To do this is really not hard, but it requires time and discipline. We must study the Word and become familiar with it and understand it. There are lots of ways to do this, whether it’s by listening to your minister teach from the Word, going through written Bible studies individually or in groups, or spending time reading the Bible and using trusted commentaries to help. We must practice using the Bible with others we trust. Surgeons don’t just read books and then all of a sudden show up in an operating room. They have various methods to practice their skills first. Even then their 10th surgery is typically better than their 1st, and their 100th is even better than that. Find some other believers that you can share with you will be honest with you and will encourage and challenge you.




Study and practice. Those are the keys to wielding the sword of the Spirit, the powerful weapon of God with skill and accuracy so that you can, not just defend yourself, but work to bring about God’s will for all those you are around.




So, choose your weapon. Then work to become a master at using this amazing weapon of God, the Bible.




Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker

Living in the World – Living out the Word

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