Battle Ready #4 of 5 Christ, Steeped in Scripture, June 13
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Thomas Sherrod
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 NIV).
Arriving at the troubled adolescent hospital unit, I prepared my mind before walking through the door. The violent threats I had received the day before from one young man were still fresh in my mind. The proper clothes would be of little benefit if I did not have a healthy perspective. Who knows what the young man’s night had been like? He may have reconsidered his actions. He may be ready for reconciliation. I did not know. All I could do was be sure of my motives and intentions. At first glance, he did not appear to have had a good night. The scowl on his face and the tension in his body spoke volumes. I prayed he would be receptive to our efforts to reach him.
In today’s Bible verse, Paul includes the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit in the battle-ready uniform every Christian needs. The head is one of the most crucial and vulnerable parts of the body. A blow to the head could be fatal. Likewise, a mind focused on earthly things could easily create conflict. However, a mind set on spiritual things could produce an atmosphere of healing. Paul refers to the helmet primarily as a physically protective piece of armor. I am stretching the helmet interpretation to include fostering a healthy frame of mind, based on scripture (for example, see Colossians 3:1-2).
The first offensive weapon Paul tells us to wield is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The power, the benefit, the importance of being steeped in scripture cannot be overemphasized. The devil will misuse scripture only to mislead us. Paul sees the Word of God as a weapon against the dangerous lies of the devil and false prophets. Scripture is intended to remind us of our true identity in Christ. As Christians, we belong to Christ, stand on His promises, and trust that He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion (see Philippians 1:6). The Scriptures proclaim Jesus as Lord of all and us as part of His plan of salvation.
The trial of cancer can cause you to lose focus. Your trust in God may waver. Confusion about God’s plan may cloud your thinking. People might misquote Scripture to you. My heart yearns for you to have faithful friends and church members that can help you claim the blessings of Scripture and shepherd you through these choppy currents. I encourage you to be saturated in Scripture each day. Recordings, podcasts, or someone reading to you are great avenues that God will provide to feed your spirit and sharpen the sword of the Spirit within you.
Pray: Lord, feed me with Your Word. Make Your Word a priority in my life. May You plow the soil of my heart creating a receptive furrow for Your Word to take root. Thank You for nourishing my soul with Your Spirit every day. Amen.
Your Turn:
Ask God to remove any stones from your heart and create good soil for His Word.
Celebrate the security of being equipped with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
Thomas W. Sherrod, Cancer Survivor
Tom is a retired hospital chaplain who works part time for Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health System in North Carolina. He organized and facilitated a cancer support group for twenty years as part of his hospital ministry. He is married for forty-four years and enjoys his three daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren. He is a recent survivor of prostate cancer and is immensely thankful for all of God's grace and provisions through it all.
Sara E. Eppley Smith
My best friend since the 3rd grade died at the age of 53 in 2016 on this date from Breast Cancer. Her faith and her positive attitude through all that she endured during her illness is remarkable. Her smile was infectious, her heart big, her love for her family and friends unmeasurable. She impacted my life in so many ways, and I feel that she has been a guardian angel for me in my own cancer journey. I loved her like a sister, and she is missed every day.
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