A Sharp Sword

Read: Ephesians 6:13-17; Hebrews 4:12-13

“We had a missionary from Guatemala in my class today,” Maverick said as his family drove home from church. “He showed us a machete. It was big—and he said it was very sharp.”

“What’s a shetty?” asked Maverick’s little sister.

“Not shetty, Charis—machete,” Maverick corrected her. “It’s something like a sword. It can be used as a weapon, but the missionary said people in Guatemala use machetes to whack tall grasses and scoop out clumps of dirt when they’re planting crops. They use them to cut sugar cane and other plants too.” He smiled. “They sound really useful. I’d like to have one!”

“What would you do with it?” asked Charis. “You don’t need a shet…a mush…a sword. Why don’t they just call it a sword?”

Dad chuckled. “We have several swords in our house. Did you know that?”

“Yeah,” said Mom. “In fact, you each own one.”

Charis couldn’t believe that. “No, we don’t! I definitely don’t have a sword, and neither does Maverick.”

“Yes, you do!” Dad said. “Maverick has one in his hand right now.”

Charis looked at the Bible Maverick was holding. “That’s a Bible!”

Dad grinned. “Right. And the Bible is called the sword of the Spirit. It can cut through the lies and excuses we tell ourselves and point out our sin.”

Mom nodded. “For instance, before I became a Christian, I thought I was better than everyone else. I’d look at people and be glad my life wasn’t like theirs. But then a friend gave me a Bible, and when I started reading it, I realized I wasn’t good at all. God’s Word showed me all the ways I’d sinned against Him and how I could only be saved through Jesus, who died to take the punishment I deserve. It’s what led me to put my trust in Him. Now when I read the Bible, the Holy Spirit continues to show me things I’ve done wrong that I need to confess and ways I’m trying to do things on my own instead of trusting God. He’s using it to help me turn from sin and rest in God’s love and grace.”

“See?” said Dad. “The Bible really is sharp—sharp enough to pierce our hearts and show us how much we need Jesus.”

–Janice M. Jones

How about you? Have you ever been convicted of something as you read the Bible? Did it cut through your defenses and show you sin in your life? The Bible can pierce our hearts and show us our sin, but it also tells us that Jesus died and rose again so we could be saved. Trust Him to free you from sin. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?) Then keep reading the Bible and trust God to use it to make you more like Jesus.

Today’s key verse: [God’s word] is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us…It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. Hebrews 4:12 (ERV)

Today’s key thought: The Bible pierces hearts