When a Soldier Lays Down Their Weapon

When you enter the military, you are trained in how to use your weapon. You are required to become completely familiar with it. You are trained how to use it in attack on the offensive and also how to use it to defend yourself and your company. As a soldier in the Army of the Lord, you are to be trained in the use of your weapon both offensively and defensively just as a soldier in the military. 

Today I want to look at what happens when the soldier lays down their weapon. 

In the military if you put down your weapon, you are vulnerable. You can no longer take the battle to the enemy nor can you defend yourself, your company or battle for the cause of your country. 

In the same manner, when a Christian soldier lays down their weapon (the sword of the Lord or Bible), they, too, are vulnerable. It is harder to stand against the fiery darts of the devil. It is harder to avoid temptations. It is harder to attack against false doctrine or teachings when you have laid down your weapon and not familiarized yourself with it. Psalm 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

The more we have God's Word in our heart, the less we will do in offence against him. 

When we leave our weapon laying on the table or the book shelf, we cannot use it to defend our beliefs, nor can we use it to fight against wrong when we do not keep it close and use it. We cannot use it to show others why they should also have the same weapon when we are not using ours. 

Make sure you are armed at all times with your weapon. Even when we have scripture memorized, in the heat of a battle, sometimes those scriptures are not as easily recalled, if you have your Bible close and handy, you can open it and find help. Keep a New Testament in your purse or car. Don't allow yourself to become complacent and lay it down and let it gather dust. If you do, you will not be able to be the soldier you need to be as the battle rages.