FRIDAY 28th
Hebrews 4:12
NIV Hebrews 4:12 – ‘For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’
ESV Hebrews 4:12 – ‘For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’
In Wednesdays devotion I mentioned that the garage was another story, it is also full of various things, furniture, boxes yet to be opened and also my various tool boxes, which I will also enjoy being able to sort out and rummage through when space becomes available. Tools are handy, fortunately I had sufficient tools already at hand to be able to do some of the work that’s needed to be done in the house as we have been settling in, but the reason I mention them is because there is a link between my tools and my books! The tools have helped me build things, hangs things, repair things, etc. And there is the sense in which when it comes to my ministry the books I have are also tools, they are a means to help me to do things, more importantly to help me in my ministry preparation, in my ability to build sermons, hang thoughts from and to help repair lives spiritually, but of course the most important tool is the Word of God. And it is with the help of some of the other tools, commentaries, studies etc. that I will develop these devotions around the main tool, the Word of God. As we go through these devotions, I will mention any other books I use, which will be from a variety of sources.
One of the books I have is a two part set ‘The Open Your Bible’ OT & NT Page by Page*, I have just turned to this today to see what it says for Hebrews 4:12, it falls in the section covering verses 1-13 of that chapter so only has a brief mention, but this is it: the previous verses ‘lead to the reflection that God’s Word is not to be taken lightly. It is conceived dynamically. It is not static waiting for us to handle it as we will. It is ‘living and active’ and stands in judgment on us. It is sharper than a sword, for it penetrates to the innermost recesses of our human personality. Nothing is hidden from God. It is impossible to bluff our way through. The Word is always adequate, always revealing. We stand before God as we are, stripped of all pretensions and shams. This is a solemn warning.’
May we always allow the Word of God to do the work in our lives that God desires for it to do, whether to correct or reprove, to build or to tear down, to instruct and to reform, that when we do stand before him on that day, we will not be ashamed. May his Word be our daily and constant companion, a light that directs our path.
* Published by Creative 4 International ISBN 978 1 909680 03 6