God’s Tools // 2 Corinthians 10:5

I really like today’s verse in The Message Version; check it out, “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.”

The idea of our impulses intrigues me, because they will lead us astray if left unchecked. The image we get in the traditional translations like in our graphic is that we hold our impulses captive like a soldier might keep an enemy combatant captive at the tip of a sword (or the barrel of a gun in modern warfare). The primary tool that we have is the knowledge of God given us in His holy Word.

I think it’s a good idea in closing to revisit the idea of the armor of God, which the Lord gives us to stand strong in spiritual warfare. We have the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God! This accompanies the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, footwear of readiness, shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:11-17). All of these elements are to protect our vital and vulnerable body parts, provide tools for defense, and give us necessary weapons to defeat the darkness lunging at us.

What impulses do you need to take captive today? Which piece of armor is most important for you today? How can you use the Word of God to give and support your knowledge of God’s love and desire to save? Let’s use the tools God gave us to stand strong in the spiritual warfare raging all around us.

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