Sharpen your Sword

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

The other day I wrote about our sword of the Spirit being like a lightsaber. Today I'm going to write about it being a sword. Ephesians 6 tells us that it is the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." In Hebrews 4:12, we read, "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."

So, our spiritual sword (the Word of God) is sharper than any physical double-edged sword. But, we need to keep it sharp. Not that God's word loses its truth or ability to divide, but the way we use it may. If we don't remain familiar with it, we may as well be wielding a dull sword.

Have you ever tried to cut with a dull knife? Usually you can do it, but it takes a lot more work. Have you then sharpened it and gone back to what you were cutting before? Likely, the difference in ease of cutting was quite noticeable. And so in the spiritual realm, we need to be sharp with the Word of God. It needs to be on the forefront of our minds. But how do we do this, day in and day out? And especially when our swords generally get blunt the more they are used?

Proverbs holds the answer for us: each other. As brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, we sharpen one another. This happens in a number of ways.

It might happen through gathering with believers and praying for one another.
It might happen through reaching out to others together.
It might happen by studying the Word together, and
It might happen by preaching to each other. Maybe
It just happens over a meal shared together.
Hopefully it happens in daily conversations with other believers.
Hopefully you are encouraged by what your brothers and sisters say.
Hopefully you encourage your brothers and sisters in what you say and do, too.

If you're not regularly around other believers, what can you do to spend some time with them? How can you encourage others? Are you willing to let yourself be encouraged and, if necessary, corrected? Just like an axe or sword doesn't spend all of its time being sharpened, that doesn't need to be the only thing happening to our spiritual swords either, but it is important in keeping them effective for all the many spiritual battles we face.

*Heavenly Father, thank you that you have given us armor to fight in your spiritual battle. Thank you also that we already know we have victory because Jesus has defeated evil, and we fight in His name. Holy Spirit, please encourage us to keep sharpening our swords with one another. Help us to take encouragement in from our brothers and sisters. Help us to give out useful encouragement. In Jesus’ name, amen!

Lincoln W.-WB Journal
Blessings Daily Devotionals