Chapter One

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)

She was an atheist who hated preachers. And she let me know it the moment she cracked open the door.

Someone asked me to go witness to a woman named Diane. Teresa and I drove up to her double-wide trailer in Laurel, Mississippi. Everybody warned me she wouldn't give me two minutes. She almost didn't. 

I didn’t get very far in the conversation, but on my way out, I asked her if she would read a book of the Bible—the Gospel of John. “Read one chapter each day for three weeks, and then we can talk again”. She laughed. "I don't believe the Bible." I told her, "This book is a knife that will cut you whether you believe it or not." Then we left. 

That was Tuesday.

Sunday morning, the first person down the aisle during the invitation was Diane. She said she wanted to get baptized. I told her she had to get saved first. She said, "Oh, I got saved." I asked when. She said, "Wednesday morning. I didn't get past the first chapter."

That is the power of the sword of the Lord.

Today’s verse declares that God's Word confronts what no argument can touch. Strongholds fall, pretensions collapse, and thoughts become obedient to Christ. When God’s Word goes to work, it is never without power.

Think of one person in your life who would never walk into a church. This week, hand them a New Testament and ask them to read the Gospel of John. Just John. And tell them what I told Diane. The knife cuts whether they believe it will or not. 

You can’t make someone believe anything. But you can get them to chapter one.

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, Your Word has power to give life to every person. Give me the courage to hand it to someone this week without worrying whether they'll receive it. I praise You that Your Word will go to Work and Your kingdom will come in their life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.