That's Blunt

Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 10

If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.(Ecclesiastes 10.10)

Devotional Thought: Have you ever heard the expression, “Work smarter, not harder”?  This is a modern-day version of what Solomon, considered to be the wisest man in the Bible, emphasized in this verse in Ecclesiastes.  Solomon’s wisdom was given to him by God, so we should give careful consideration on how to apply it.  Knowledge that we don't act upon certainly does not comprise wisdom!

The imagery of blunt iron brings to mind Ephesians 6.11, where Paul instructs believers to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”  One of these items is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  How effective is a blunt sword? 

How does our sword become blunt?  When we neglect to sharpen the edge, by spending time with the Lord and seeking wisdom and spiritual discernment in the Word of God.  As believers, we wrestle against spiritual forces of evil.  We cannot expect to win battles with blunt swords.  We must recognize our true enemy and the nature of the war in which we fight.  We must be prepared to wield the sword of the Spirit, fighting the enemy with the Word of God, against which no evil can stand.  We also should be “praying at all times in the Spirit… keep[ing] alert with all perseverance,” (v. 18). 

We need not fear the enemy when our iron is sharp!

Jenny Wade

Prayer: Lord, when the power of our enemy seems overwhelming, help us to remember you have already defeated him and that we will stand and against him by the power of your Word.  Against you nothing shall stand!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 15.1-5

1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;

3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5 who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.