Hebrews 4:12

New International Version (NIV)

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.

For Meditation

 Her face was drenched with tears; her sobs, uncomfortably loud. She was going through a marital crisis, and as she sat before me in the first of our counseling sessions, she couldn’t lift her eyes to my face. Between her sobs, Mariama told me matter-of-factly, “I am tired. I just want to go away from everybody and everything.” I reminded her of Psalm 139, and she responded, “I am not running from God. I just want to go away from this marriage, as far as possible.” Again I reminded her of Jonah, who also wanted to go far away from his God-given responsibility, because he couldn’t stand the Ninevites. Effectively, Jonah was running away from God, I said. As if pierced by a sharp sword, Mariama screamed and burst into a loud, uncontrollable cry. Sometimes, that’s what the word of God does in our lives.

1. Have you come under the laser precision probing of your heart by the living and active word of God before (Heb. 4:12)?
2. Has it ever revealed your motive in an uncomfortable situation before?
3. How did it feel? Did you fight it? Are you still struggling with it?
4. Do you know that it is good that God revealed your heart in that matter? Where would David have been without those piercing words from Nathan, “You are the man?” (2 Sam. 12:7). What would have happened to Paul without the query from God on Damascus road, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4).
5. Most importantly, do you know that you are the best example to the efficacy of God’s word in our lives? How else would you have gained the right to become a child of God? (Jn. 1:12-13). Why don’t you allow the word to finish its work in you then?

I pray you do.

So: May you not run away from the searchlight of God’s word; but rather, may you embrace it with joy and allow it to train you in righteousness until glory dawns and you stand before Him.

God’s word is His scalpel for our needed open heart surgery.

Shalom