Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian. —A.W. Tozer
Imagine: You’re standing on the front lines as a battle of epic proportions is just about to commence. Beside you are your comrades in arms… the faithful brothers and sisters who share your calling. As the enemy marches over the horizon, you can feel your heart pounding beneath your breastplate. You tighten your belt an extra notch and move your shield in front of your face and heart. Your helmet is secure. Now you wait and wait, ready for the inevitable. Finally, your commander shouts down the line, “Ready! Aim! Read!” Your entire army bows to their knees, opens their Bibles, and prays….
Hmmm, that’s not exactly William Wallace-like is it? Not what you would expect from brave hearts? But it’s thoroughly biblical. We are at war, and Paul shouts the commands:
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
Paul goes through a long list of spiritual armor, but when we get to the end, he calls us not to fight, not to charge, but to read:
Take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
As you face battles of many kinds today, the Spirit is holding God’s Word out to you as an incredible gift, asking you to “Take it up” and read.
Holy Spirit, I thank You for this special weapon of God’s Word. By Your power in me, I’ll pick up this sword and read it and use it in the battles I face today. I need every piece of armor You have given me to use in my battles today against Satan, my flesh, and the world. Amen.