It was very early in my faith walk when I looked at the Bible as sacred and important, but largely DEAD AND DORMANT in terms of being a part of my life on a daily basis. It’s a massive understatement to say that I was wrong. God’s Word is ACTIVE AND ALIVE.
“The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 GNT
The Apostle Paul is exceedingly clear here–the Word of God is alive and active and never dead and dormant! It was active and alive in the beginning. It is active and alive today. And it will be active and alive tomorrow and forever (Isaiah 40:8).
Paul is also telling us that God’s Word is not only alive; it is sharp and able to identify and penetrate the issues in our life that are hidden and hard to locate. Only the sharp sword of God’s Word through Jesus and the Holy Spirit can cut through our pain and pride like a knife carving through bone and marrow.
God is not trying to hurt us; he is only interested in healing our wounds. In this process we are convicted of what needs to be changed in our life. It makes sense. If scripture does not penetrate and convict, how in the world will we ever know what needs to addressed or changed?
God’s Word illuminates the gap in our minds and hearts between the spiritual and the selfish.
The judgement Paul references in Hebrews 4:12 is not meant to condemn us. It is meant to penetrate and “assess” our heart and motives and actions. Our level of spiritual maturity determines how well we are able to distinguish what emanates from our natural self and that which comes from the Holy Spirit.
I ask God to implant his Word in me so it is ACTIVE AND ALIVE. That it identifies the issues in my life that are hidden. That it cuts through my pain and pride like a knife carving through bone and marrow.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is God’s Word alive in you today?
“My Christian friends, who also have been called by God! Think of Jesus, whom God sent to be the High Priest of the faith we profess.” Hebrews 3:1