Picking the Right Weapon



Sometimes, we can get distracted by good things.

A few years ago, I was at a Christian bookstore waiting in the check-out line to make a purchase. The lady in front of me was buying some Christian book and I overheard her conversation with the cashier.  It went something like this:

“I just love this book series.  It’s helped me so much.  I probably shouldn't admit this, but I read this more than I read my Bible.  It’s got so many good scriptures in it, it’s just like reading my Bible.”

Then she paid and walked off, with the cashier smiling politely and happy to make a sale.

It left he shaking my head.   No book or book series, no matter how many times it quotes the Bible, is EVER a substitute for God’s word.  Neither will a good commentary or study notes from a study Bible.  Christian books are filled with really good life application and have a lot of godly wisdom, but they ARE NOT THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.  Commentaries and study Bibles are full of great wisdom and truth, but they ARE NOT THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.  

Paul is clear in Ephesians 6 when he writes about the Armor of God.  The Bible is the only spiritual weapon we have or need from the Lord.  Nothing else will help us in the spiritual battles we face.  No other book will drive back Satan or the minions of darkness.  The Bible is the only one.

The woman at the Christians bookstore will fail many spiritual battles because she is choosing an inferior weapon.  Only God’s word will work in our fight against Satan and his minions. We must be careful to trust only in the Bible as our weapon of choice.  Too often we rely upon good things that are not inspired to fight our spiritual battles.

So know your Bible, read it and apply it.  It is the only way you can take the fight to the enemy.  In order to win the fight, you have to pick the right weapon.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Devotion to a false god

Image
Last week, at Disney World, I went to retrieve our stroller from the stroller parking section.  As I searched among the hundred or so strollers, I finally found mine and started to move it.  As I pulled, it snagged on a woman's garment.  Panicked, I looked up and saw it was a Muslim women in full Muslin dress.  Her body was completely covered.  Only a slit for her eyes was visible.  I was careful not to yank, and I tried to apologize as the hook of the handle caught part of her garment.  She didn't say a word and we both quietly went on our ways. As I walked away, I felt pity on her.  For one, it's Disney World in June in Florida.  I strode along in shorts and a very thin T-shirt.  Both were soaked in sweat.  I had already consumed two bottles of water and still felt weary.  She was dressed head to toe in heavy garments.  I can't imagine how hot she was pushing a stroller with two kids through a mass of people in hum...
Read more

Bearing Responsbility

Image
I remember when my daughter was first born. Amid the excitement and joy came an overwhelming feeling.  This baby, which I held in my hands, was now my responsibility.  When she got sick, needed feeding, required a diaper change, or had to be corrected and taught, those responsibilities fell to me as her father.  In a matter of a few minutes, I had been entrusted with a new life on planet earth. Looking back on that day six years ago, I was excited but scared.  Yet, that is nothing compared to the responsibility Joesph must have felt.  Joseph was a righteous man, according to scripture, and he knew one thing for certain - Jesus was not his biological son.  Thus, he planned to divorce Mary quietly and be rid of the whole matter. And before we vilify Joseph, know that he could have done much worse.  By law, Mary could have been stoned to death.  His divorce was a form of mercy.  She would live and he would be rid of the stigma of an unfait...
Read more

Following Jesus' Example

Jesus was not a convential man. Often, when Jesus taught, he challenged the status quo.  He also liked to use object lessons and parables to illustrate his points about faith and a relationship with God. One night after dinner, during the last week of his life before the resurrection, he finished eating, took off his outer garment, grabbed a towel and started to wash the disciples' feet. Stunned, Peter protested, but Jesus said it had to be done.  He had to allow Jesus, his rabbi, his teacher, his Lord, to become a servant and wash Peter's dirty, worn feet.  So he did.  Jesus washed all their feet that night.  Then he said:  You need to do this too. Too often in Christianity today, there is an attitude of moral superiority.  We love to build beautiful church buildings, boast of our attendance, brag about our programs and talk about the money we give.  At the same time, we turn our nose up to the alcoholics and drug addicts and homeless and...
Read more