PREPARED FOR BATTLE
HEBREWS 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
It was Dan's first hunt with me. On opening day his buddy, John, had shot a nice 8 point buck and had seen several other good deer. So the next morning Dan took his brand new Mission Crossbow and headed off to John's stand.
Shortly after daylight a big 10 point buck walked in on Dan. In Dan's excitement he struggled with the new crossbow's safety. He tried over and over again, all the time the big buck fed around Dan's stand. Eventually the buck walked off and Dan came back to camp to tell his sad story.
Every year I have one or more hunters that show up at my camps with bows, rifles or shotguns that haven't 't been out of their cases since the previous year. Some, like Tim, show up with a something that they have never fired. Many never practice until the day before its time to get out and hunt again. They know what they own but they are not familiar enough with it to use it effectively.
How many of us really know our most important weapon we can have, our Bible. The verse above tells us of the power of God's Word. In other translations it tells us that God's word is said to be "quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." The Greek word for quick means "alive, living, lively." The Greek word for powerful means "full of energy, energized, active, effective." It's all we need to go into battle in this life.
God's Word Divides. It can separate truth from lie and can help us identify the half-truths and complications that cloud our thinking by setting them up against God's truths. It continually prepares us for battle.
The Bible can do all of this, but it can only do it if we spend time in it and practice what it calls us to. If it sits in the drawer until you leave for church on Sunday morning, it is not preparing you for battle or for spreading God's Good News.
1 Peter 3:15 explains that very reason being ready for battle;
"but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15)
We can only be ready with an answer when we intimately know what His Word says. We also cannot stand against the attacks of Satan without being prepared for battle. God's Word gives us what we need to reach others but also to stand against the schemes and attacks of the one who seeks to destroy us.
How often are you taking the weapon God has given you out and prepared for battle? How often do you prepare for the battle that is before you?
Get in His Word, PREPARE FOR BATTLE.
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