For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12-13

One of the toughest jobs in America has to be that of principal in a public school.

Naturally, our principals are expected to assemble a top-flight staff, which is able to teach in a manner that enables every student to test near the top of his or her grade, and to play sports on a near-professional level, and be fulfilled both personally, physically, emotionally and academically.

Our public school principals have been entrusted with setting up academic utopias where all are supportive and encouraging, and nobody would ever cheat, steal, bully, twerk, sext, do drugs, or anything else that might be demeaning or detrimental.

Maybe that's why Alabama middle school Principal Priscilla Holley made the national news when she said she wanted to "arm her students." Immediately, people began to imagine bands of khaki-clad, bandoleer-wearing students wandering the school halls, firing their assault rifles into the air, as the teachers were forced to hide under their desks.

Principal Holley explained that arming the students was only one small part of an overall program designed to keep the children safe from harm.

Oh, I forgot to tell you, Principal Holley's unusual weapon of choice in the arming of her students is eight-ounce cans of food. And yes, that's when people start laughing.

Principal Holley brushes off those laughs. She believes the students would prefer to do something, anything, rather than just sit and be shot by an intruder. She also thinks a bunch of eight-ounce cans, thrown with enthusiasm, can be a pretty formidable weapon. It is quite possible those cans could stop or slow down an attacker.

My friends, has it ever occurred to you that when Christians fight against rulers, principalities and cosmic powers, the Lord has placed some unusual weapons into our hands? Let's see, there's the "belt of truth" and the "breastplate of righteousness." We have the "shield of faith," the "helmet of salvation" and, as our offensive weapon of choice, the "sword of the Spirit," the Word of God (see Ephesians 6:10-20).

The world finds such weaponry amusing, laughable. Skeptics point with scorn at God's Word and say it is just one book of many. We know better. So did the writer of Hebrews. Speaking for all Christianity, he said, "For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrew 4:12).

That's a weapon which can do the job ... if we use it.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, every person puts their trust into something. May my trust always be in You, Your crucified and risen Son, the Spirit, and the Word. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Job 30-31    Matthew 13:31-58

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