AUGUST 10

Hebrews 4:12

                      SUPER SWORD!

“ This knife will barely slice butter!”complained Mom as she fixed dinner. Dad laughed. “I don’t think it can possibly be that bad,” he said, “but I’ll sharpen it later anyway.”

After dinner, Liz approached her father. “Dad, I’m stuck on this math problem. Can you help me?” She held out her paper and pencil.

“I’ll try,”agreed Dad,but he soon handed the pencil back to her.“Don’t you know how to use a pencil sharpener?” he asked with a grin. “ This is so dull it hardly has a point at all.” Liz quickly sharpened the pencil, and Dad helped her see what she had been doing wrong on the problem.

When they all gathered for family devotion, Dad read Hebrews 4:12. “ The dull tools we’ve had around here tonight made me think of the sword that never needs sharpening - the Word of God,” he said. “Our knives and pencils become dull and need to be sharpened often, but God’s Word is always sharp and powerful. Of course, we need to get that sword out and use it. Who knows how we do that?”

“Well... I guess we use it when we read it,” suggested Liz.

“Yes,” said Dad. “As we read, God often uses His Word to speak to us. At what other times do we use it?”

Liz’s brother Isaac had a suggestion. “When we talk to other people about Jesus,” he said.

“Good,”Dad approved.“We should be sharing with others what God says - especially about their need to know Him. When we do that, it’s good to include Bible verses because God says His Word will always accomplish what He sends it forth to do. Any other ideas?”

“We use it when we think about it and apply its truths to our lives,” said Mom. “For example, Grandma has been so ill lately, and I’m comforted when I remember God’s promise to work everything for her best-and mine!”

Dad nodded. “Let’s all be sure to use our ‘swords’ every day,” he said.

Thought: Are you using your “sword” everyday?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I open my Bible and read it daily. Also, please teach me to think about my quiet time lesson, and how it applies to my life. In Jesus’ name – amen.