Hebrews 4:1-16

The Word

Have you ever done something only to look back and say, “What was I thinking?” Sometimes the hardest person to know is yourself. Knowing others can be pretty easy because for the most part there is little or nothing riding on it. You don’t have to live with them (except in a few cases) and if you don’t really know them it likely  won’t impact your life materially. Not knowing yourself however, can lead to tragic consequences. 

One of the most important verses in all of scripture is Hebrews 4:12. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any doubleedged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Reading the Bible doesn’t just teach you the stories of the heroes of old. It doesn’t just reveal God (as important as that is). It reveals you. If you have spent much time reading the scriptures as a believer then you have had the experience of suddenly seeing yourself quite clearly, often with uncomfortable clarity. This is no accident.

The Word is alive. This is why you can read a passage a hundred times and many of those times it will say something different, but quite relevant, to your life. Warning: don’t go looking for novelty. If you try to make it different you will succeed but you will shut out the Holy Spirit and only be listening to yourself. Simply read the Word in humility and the Holy Spirit will take care of speaking.

The Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Your heart. My heart. If you will allow yourself to listen the Word will consistently reveal where your true motives lie. It will show you what is flesh and what is Spirit.

No wonder the psalmist says, “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” It is.