Gladiolus

Growing in our graveyard are some gladioli. They are named after the gladius, or short Roman sword. When Paul described to the Ephesians the armour of God, he remarks:

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:17

The only offensive weapon afforded the saint is the sword; the rest is defensive. Helpfully, he clarified that the sword of the Spirit is not some prophetic binding and loosing, nor grave sucking, not even divinely given tongues, but the word of God. The Bible is our weapon; from its words the devils fear and flee. The promises of God, who cannot lie, and recorded therein. They are inviolable and sacrosanct; the most furious demon can rail and screech, but not one of God’s words can it undermine or negate.

The Prince of Darkness grim,

We tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure,

For lo! His doom is sure.

One little word shall fell him.

-Dr Luther