Part 3 (?!)
Yet another installment in the "Rusty Blades" saga! (I assure you there will be no more than 30 or 40 chapters.)
I've been thinking the last few days about my own blade, or sword. How keen, polished, and ready for battle is it?
"Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).
Of course, as a matter of general truth and principle, God's Word is forever honed and prepared to be drawn and used. However, how ready I am to wield it in accordance with my personal life and the challenges I must face and overcome in order to honor, trust, and obey the Lord? This is the question that confronts every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ in our calling to "fight the good fight of faith" (I Timothy 6:12). We must know, believe, and ready ourselves always to draw the sword, that is, to remember and affirm the truth of God's Word in the everyday realities that present themselves to us.
Interestingly, even as I write this, one of the those realities has just provided the opportunity and challenge to draw the sword. The particulars are not important, but the the proper response is vital. I must remember what God's Word declares about the blessings, challenges, and everyday mundane affairs of life. The Lord is present. We face nothing alone. He promises wisdom so that we may know how to think, speak, act and relate to every contingency. He provides for every need "according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." He protects us, allowing only those difficult things to come our way that He can fit into His eternal glory and our well being. Indeed, we live anticipated lives wherein the living God is the truth of both fact and context regarding all things. This we must believe as a matter of doctrinal principle, and also along the daily path of blessings, challenges, and whatever God determines or allows life to bring our way. Drawing the sword, as it were, involves trusting, affirming, and obeying our Lord's Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thereby, God's "two-edged" sword both accomplishes our protection and effects great damage to our spiritual enemies as the Lord Jesus is glorified and revealed by our faith (Matthew 28:20; I Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 4:19; Proverbs 21:31; Acts 17:28; Hebrews 4:12).
We want to keep our sword sharp, unsheathed and active. Such spiritual action first involves knowing our blade through consistently reading and pondering the truths of Scripture. Subsequently, we expect countless opportunities to utilize the Word we have hidden in our hearts (Psalm 119:11). For many years, rusty blades have been waiting in our walls for that day when they would come forth into the light as a reminder to avail ourselves of another Blade that must dwell not only in our hearts, but be drawn by our hand...
"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand."
(Psalm 149:6)
I've been thinking the last few days about my own blade, or sword. How keen, polished, and ready for battle is it?
"Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).
Of course, as a matter of general truth and principle, God's Word is forever honed and prepared to be drawn and used. However, how ready I am to wield it in accordance with my personal life and the challenges I must face and overcome in order to honor, trust, and obey the Lord? This is the question that confronts every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ in our calling to "fight the good fight of faith" (I Timothy 6:12). We must know, believe, and ready ourselves always to draw the sword, that is, to remember and affirm the truth of God's Word in the everyday realities that present themselves to us.
Interestingly, even as I write this, one of the those realities has just provided the opportunity and challenge to draw the sword. The particulars are not important, but the the proper response is vital. I must remember what God's Word declares about the blessings, challenges, and everyday mundane affairs of life. The Lord is present. We face nothing alone. He promises wisdom so that we may know how to think, speak, act and relate to every contingency. He provides for every need "according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." He protects us, allowing only those difficult things to come our way that He can fit into His eternal glory and our well being. Indeed, we live anticipated lives wherein the living God is the truth of both fact and context regarding all things. This we must believe as a matter of doctrinal principle, and also along the daily path of blessings, challenges, and whatever God determines or allows life to bring our way. Drawing the sword, as it were, involves trusting, affirming, and obeying our Lord's Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thereby, God's "two-edged" sword both accomplishes our protection and effects great damage to our spiritual enemies as the Lord Jesus is glorified and revealed by our faith (Matthew 28:20; I Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 4:19; Proverbs 21:31; Acts 17:28; Hebrews 4:12).
We want to keep our sword sharp, unsheathed and active. Such spiritual action first involves knowing our blade through consistently reading and pondering the truths of Scripture. Subsequently, we expect countless opportunities to utilize the Word we have hidden in our hearts (Psalm 119:11). For many years, rusty blades have been waiting in our walls for that day when they would come forth into the light as a reminder to avail ourselves of another Blade that must dwell not only in our hearts, but be drawn by our hand...
"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand."
(Psalm 149:6)
No comments:
Post a Comment