HomeWord - May 24, 2006
Offense and Defense
This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13
There is a great 80’s movie called The Princess Bride. In this movie is a great scene where a masked man attempts to rescue the princess from her kidnappers. After the masked man scales The Cliffs of Insanity, he is met by a Spanish swordsman. What entails is witty dialogue and a great metal clinking sword fight. Both men are skilled and studied in the art of sword fighting. At one instant the Spaniard is attacking and has the masked man cornered near the cliff. But suddenly the tides change and now the masked man is chasing after the Spaniard. Depending on the moment, both men use their weapon for either attacking their opponent or protecting themselves against their opponent.
Even more important to the Spaniard, Inigo Montoyo, is the sword he is using. Montoyo has spent his life attempting to vindicate his father’s wrongful death. It is his father’s sword he uses in this fight. It is his father’s sword that ignites in him passion and purpose. In fact later in the movie once he has finally killed his father’s murderer, the Spaniard does not know what else to do with his life – his journey has been that specific.
The word of God is powerful: Like a sword it has the ability to be used as both the offense and the defense, as we attack and protect ourselves from the enemy. But as in the case of Inigo Montoyo, what sword you are using matters more than anything else. The Word of God, the Bible, is compared to a sword. The Bible is not merely a book of neat letters, but living, active, powerful and holy text with the ability to change lives. It looks within us cutting through the good and the bad, it judges our heart. The Bible is not meant only to be read, it is to shape our very lives.
Don’t let your Bible reading be like any other book…something to put you to sleep at night. When you read the Bible think about this verse from Hebrews, and remember that Bible you hold in your hands and read with your heart should penetrate your soul. The Bible is a life-changing love letter from God to you.
To comment on today's devotional, click here .
GOING DEEPER:
1. Why is it so easy to read the Bible like it is just another book?
2. Does it sometimes feel like a waste of time to read your Bible or memorizing scripture? Why does it really matter that we know and understand the Bible?
3. A part of being a Christian involves the discipline of knowing and understanding the Word of God. It is powerful, living and active! Try to memorize a Bible verse each week this month, so you can be prepared in your Christian life.
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 66:1-4; Ephesians 6:17; 1 Timothy 3:14-16
Encouraging Parents…Building Families |
|
|
Other FREE resources from HomeWord and Jim Burns: |
 |
