Unshackled Moments ~ July 2 ~ Wielding Our Weapon Correctly

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand... And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God... 

Ephesians 6:12-13 & 17

Most Christians are familiar with this passage, including the verses I omitted where Paul lists the armor of God. Everything listed in the armor is defensive and protective with the exception of the sword. The sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the Christian's spiritual arsenal. And as verse 17 tells us, the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. So the word of God is a sword that pierces, a weapon, offensive as well as defensive. We get that. It's hard not to. We use it for defense, to protect ourselves, and all too often we use it to attack and tear down others.

Now wait a minute. It is an offensive weapon. We are told to use it, right? Yes, but let's keep the whole weapon analogy in context. Remember how this section starts? Verse 12 introduces the armor by telling us before the analogy that we don't wrestle, or fight or war with flesh and blood. The word of God is a spiritual weapon for use on a spiritual enemy. Our fellow human beings, even the most hateful, hurtful, anti-Christ people on the planet are still flesh and blood. Every one of them. Before we are told the word of God is a sword we are told not to use it on people. Do we speak the word of God to people? Absolutely. But we are to to do it in such a way that imparts grace, not as a weapon. It is used as a sword against spiritual things, but it is the Bread of Life to those who will eat of it.

Let's remember to present the truth to people as food and not steel. If we are following Christ it should be our desire that those attacking and persecuting us find the same love and grace in Christ that we have  found, not leave us alone and hurry up and die and go to hell. We, like Paul goes on to call himself in verse 20, are to be ambassadors of Christ to our human enemies. Ambassadors do not wield weapons against those they are sent to.