At the end of nearly fourteen years, I am not sure "a sharp knife" has ever made the list at the end of nearly fourteen years. A sharp knife is a kitchen necessity. Knife and blade making is an ancient art. It is necessary for cooking. Can be used for digging if it is the only thing you have on hand. I can chop, dice, and slice... as long as it is sharp.
Not long ago, the kids gave me a knife as a gift. It is one of my favorites for chopping veggies and many other things. Every time I use it, I think of them and am reminded that the right tool for any job makes it easier.
I grew up watching the original "MacGyver" on television. He can make anything and escape trouble with a Swiss army knife and a roll of duct tape. In that show, sharp knives saved lives in many episodes. When facing a difficult situation, the right tool at the right time is a game changer.
Often gratitude inspires me to find a certain passage of scripture. Today, the scripture came first. It was in my inbox. I don't carry a sword, but I use a knife everyday. I am grateful when the knife is sharp.
God's Word is the right tool at the right time. It is full of answers. There are times it cuts sharp and deep. If we read only the happy, feel good passages, we miss the meat and the heart of the scriptures. We miss the power, the wonder, and the wonderful.
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12
When a passage cuts us like a two-edged sword, we have a choice. Close the book and ignore the Spirit, or work through the discomfort and pain. I am not an athlete, but I know that when it starts to burn and hurt, the true athlete does not quit. In fact, they recognize that their bodies are being transformed by the training. Discomfort during training isn't necessarily a sign that something is wrong. Sometimes it is part of becoming stronger.
It is the same with God's Word. Keep digging. Keep reading. Keep praying for discernment. When was the last time a passage of Scripture challenged you in a way that made you uncomfortable? Did you put it down, or did you allow God to use it to sharpen you?
Today, I am grateful for a sharp knife.
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