Ephesians 6:16-17
“… and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
The people of God are called to be solidly grounded in scripture. Indeed, the apostle Paul tells us the word of God is the sword of the Spirit, and an integral piece of the armor that we need to stand firm in the face of the attacks of the Enemy.
In 2 Timothy, the apostle gives further insight into the power of the word as an essential spiritual weapon: “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3.16-17)
Scripture does four things that are “profitable” for the follower of Christ:
- The Word teaches. It gives instruction on how to live.
- The Word reproves. It tells us when we are not living the right way.
- The Word corrects. It tells how to get back on the right track.
- The Word trains in righteousness. It gives direction and disciplines that will keep us on the right track.
The passage says that when we allow the Word to teach, reprove, correct, and train us, then we will be complete and equipped for the work to which the Lord calls us. The opposite is also true. If we do not allow the Word of God to do it’s work in our lives, we will be incomplete and we will not be equipped for the work to which the Lord calls us.
Your work in the world should be a reflection of the Lord’s work in you. Your knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God—the sword of the Spirit—is foundational to the work to which the Lord calls you.
Trust God and do the work to study and obey scripture.
