The sword of the spirit

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV)
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

I used to argue that this verse didn't say study the bible but just to study to became approved by God. But what better place to find out what God wants, than his words / revelations. Newton was great but his words won't help me correctly handle the truth. 

Now am one of those people who was brought up studying the bible everyday and this is my mum's favourite verse when she is forcing us to wake up and turn-up for morning devotion. I have heard this verse countless times, through those days it seems like I needed glue to keep my eyes open or battling with sleep like our lives depended on staying awake (it kinda did,when we thought about the slap) or those days I had an assignment to complete, which was to be submitted first thing in the morning. But it was a good time where we got to "debate" on what we thought of God's word, with the bible always winning the debates over our modernised theories. I learned things, Now that made me aware of things, what God wanted and what he didn't want

But over the years of gaining independence from waking up in the same house as my mum and jumping on to the ever-busy world, studying God's word slowing went from a daily ritual to a weekly ritual to a only on Sundays when pastor says it time. To make myself feel better, I even moved the bible from the drawer to the table top and eventually to my bed . Saying if I saw it more or kept it closer to me I would remember, be more conscious of its existence. But it just stayed under my pillow, night in , night out

And just as well, I became more disconnected from God. My sense of good from bad became tainted, I started judging things "within context" ( i.e the truth is relative to the situation , abortion might be right if it saved a life! you get my drift) and I also reading the bible out of context ( lots of us do this , only quote what we need , we don't even know what it says in the very next verse). For those of us who think putting your bible under you bed would chase any evil that comes at night ( thanks to Nigerian home-videos ) think again! The only way you can chase any evil is having the word in you and not underneath your head. While you sleep , the devil might even decide to read through the bible just fun before attacking you. Remember when the Devil tempted Christ, he used words out of the word of God. 

// I can just see myself failing badly as he quoted those words  (*bowing my head in shame*)

Devil: "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.

Jesus: "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"

Me: Abi o, God has given me all dominion, I am even the main son of God, after 40 days of fasting, this human body sure needs the bread and I have da power so no slacking.

Someone once said this was a temptation of pride, there is nothing wrong with meeting one's need but notice how the Devil said "if you are the son of God..". Also there is a higher law than our physical desires, and that is God's Word. Jesus' point is that physical needs must be met God's way, not our own selfish, short-cut way

Devil: I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours."

Jesus answered: "It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.

Me: Well am not sure what I would have said but I think I would have said Bros ye, let me think about it first or said No then started dreaming about the offer I turned down ( We are humans o , stop judging me, someone even said he would consider it a blessing in disguise rather than a temptation, there is nothing God won't forgive smh ) 

This was temptation is to authority and worldly glory. Being near the pinnacle of political or corporate power,the temptations to comprise are many and the stakes are high. "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours," is the mantra. Jesus knew that power was important to his mission as Messiah, But he knew it should be bestowed by his Father in due time.

Devil: "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written:" 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' 

Jesus: "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Me: Na true God talk say he no go let my feet hit a stone so make I jump to prove that my God is a miracle-worker, so this devil can know who be who ( me boasting and being proud), So baba God let's go there  after all he watches over me, completely forgetting the part where God said we shouldn't test him.