Armour of God, Nerd Style: Jane Foster and the Sword of the Spirit

If you have seen the latest Thor: Love and Thunder (sorry btw), you will have likely noted that one character definitely got an awesome upgrade.  Jane Foster: The Worthy Thor was, to me, worth the watch for her character development as well as being able to face adversity amazingly. Seeing Jane wield the broken pieces of Mjolnir and merging them together in battle: breath taking!  Did you know though that in the comics she uses another Asgardian weapon before she becomes the new Thor? This weapon is called Undrjarn: The All Weapon and Jane used this golden item when she was a hero by the name of Valkyrie. Undrjarn is a really unique weapon as it can change into any weapon that the wielder chooses.  Kind of a useful tool for any situation that you find yourself in, almost like the Swiss pocket knife of heroes. Like, I really dig how Mjolnir was used in the movie, but part of me wishes that they would have used Undrjarn as her weapon and show off how versatile it is.

Hoping into the context of our last armour piece; a Roman soldier's sword "The Gladius" was the weapon of choice and tool of warfare.  The unique feature of this blade was that it was designed not as a chopping weapon, but was more fitted for finding openings in an enemy's armour (typically in neck, armpit, and sides).  To use a Gladius effectively, meant that you would train with it rigorously to get in quick focused attacks.  It was also a short sword, so you were facing your enemy in close quarters, which in war is always riskier when facing enemies with larger more imposing weapons to keep them at a distance. Not only was its size a risk factor, but being a two-edged sword made it that you had to be keenly aware of your sword at all times, lest you be cut by it from your own hand.

When we read Ephesians 6:17b "..., and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." our connecting point is that God's word is this tool. However, it is not to be treated as a tool, it does require respect and thought. Hebrews 4:12 states, "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." You can get a vibe that the word of God is at times a scalpel; not a tool of destruction, but to expose what needs to be dealt within ourselves to heal. God's word acts as a light for our lives and guiding us to where we should go (Psalm 119:105). The word of God serves different functions in our lives, but is a vital thing to know/understand, to use it properly, and have peace that it's both our defense and offense against a foe that is out to destroy our very souls.

What has been your experience with the Sword of the Spirit/the word of God? Do you see it as a multifaceted living thing that reads you and helps you in various situations? Is your connection with it as vital as a soldier's sword on a battlefield?

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