In Steven Spielberg’s World War II film Saving Private Ryan, a team of soldiers receives orders to penetrate Nazi lines, find an American paratrooper (Private James Ryan), and bring him out.  The team’s commander selects six men from his own company, and one from another company, for the mission.

The outsider is Corporal Upham, a clerk fluent in both French and German, who will help the team with communication along the way.  Upham initially resists the call because he has worked behind a desk for the entirety of the war.  He hasn’t fired a weapon since basic training.  He is not free to choose, however; he must join the team.

For skirmish after skirmish, Upham cowers behind boulders and trees until the fighting wanes.  He interacts freely with French civilians and Nazi prisoners of war, but he refuses to fight.  Fear crushes action, and despair dislodges duty.

Near the film’s climax, Upham comes face-to-face with a German warrior.  Ammunition belts hang from Upham’s shoulders like a priest’s vestments.  His loaded rifle is in hand.  His knife sits strapped to his hip.

Yet he falls to the ground in quailing terror.  He doesn’t even pull the trigger.

The German saunters past Upham, smirking, after killing Upham’s comrades.  The enemy proceeds, threatening, but leaves Upham to bathe in his filthy cowardice.

Caution: this clip has gruesome violence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx25WHe_KcE

While not necessarily sharing Upham’s spinelessness, many Christians share his inaction when it comes to firing their weapon.

The sword of the Spirit – the Word of God, the Bible – pierces hearts and slays sinners (Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12-13).  This divine scalpel cuts away cancerous thoughts and beliefs and transplants them with healthy ones (Rom 12:1-2).  This heavenly blowgun discharges profitable projectiles that not only penetrate but also persuade their victims to perform good works with complete competence (2 Tim 3:16-17).

This bloodstained blade strikes down nations and promotes the benevolent yet unyielding sovereignty of the one who is himself the Word of God (Rev 19:11-16).  His fury is unquenchable, but his salvation is unstoppable (Rom 1:16-17).

Fire your weapon, soldier.

The average American household has 4.4 Bibles within its walls.  More English translations exist than ever before.  The Internet and mobile devices make God’s Word far more accessible than a permit to carry a concealed weapon used to be.

Learn to use your Bible.  Learn to wield it with skill.  Don’t hang it around your neck.  Don’t mount it on the wall.  Don’t waste valuable space on your bookshelf with it.

Remember, workbooks or Bible study guides are like training wheels, helping you practice the basic mechanics.  But the time comes when you have to pop them off and let loose and just keep pedaling.  Are you ready?

Question: What prevents you from studying your Bible as much as you’d like?