“Take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭17

The final piece of spiritual armor that Paul describes is the sword of the spirit. 

The Roman soldier’s sword was  compact and lightweight which meant the soldier could wield it all day without exhaustion. It served as both an offensive and defensive weapon and was designed for use in close combat. The Roman soldier’s combat style was brutally efficient relying on precision rather than flashy sword swings. 

Unlike the other pieces of armor, the sword is the only piece that is both defensive and offensive. The Word of God is designed to cut off temptation and slash through lies we hear in our mind. Like the Roman soldier’s sword, scripture can be used in close combat to stop thoughts that are not the truth from taking hold. We can use scripture to pierce the darkness of doubt, fear, and pain. Scripture brings light to the darkness and sends the enemy packing. 

Keeping the sword in good repair includes being intentional about reading and studying scripture so the words are readily available in our minds when we need them. 

What part of your daily routine could symbolize taking up the Sword of the Spirit?