Today’s Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians 6:16-17; 1 Corinthians 14:20
Paul instructed how we can defeat the enemy. Besides wearing the armor of God, we are to hold in one hand the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) and the shield of faith in the other.
In the first century, the shields the Romans used for warfare were made of metal and wood, and then covered in leather. Prior to battle, the shields would be soaked in water so they could extinguish any flaming arrows launched by the enemy. When our minds are saturated with the Word, we can immediately recognize and quench bold lies, half lies, and subtle lies. Jesus modeled this very tactic during His temptation (Matt. 4:1-11). Satan used the Word as a trap. Jesus used it as a weapon.
Scripture instructs us to “Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind” (1 Cor. 14:20 NLT). In other words, if we study truth, we will know how to recognize what is false. Bankers learn to spot bogus money not by studying the counterfeit. Instead, they carefully examine genuine currency until they can master identifying the unique look and feel of authentic bills. Then, when they come in contact with counterfeit money, they can identify it immediately.
- How are you using the Word of God as a sword against the devil?
- What must you do to become more proficient in your knowledge of the Word so you can recognize evil more readily?