“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void,
but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11
In the above scripture, the author of Hebrews establishes two key aspects regarding the Bible. First, “the word of God is living.” Unlike any other book, Scripture is alive… it has an enduring vitality. This because God is the author of Scripture, and it is in the Bible Jesus Christ is found. As God lives, Scripture lives. The Bible, because it is God’s word is not only alive, but also life giving. It is the living word of God and it accomplishes everything that God wills. Hence the powerful truth of the above from Isaiah.
Second, the description of the Bible as a sword that can pierce and divide the soul and the spirit demonstrates the invasive quality of the Word. It might be helpful to think of the Bible as a scalpel in the hands of a gifted and superbly trained surgeon…only more-so. It requires a submissive humility on behalf of the reader. It is a great danger to approach Scripture with a haughty suspicion, rather the essential attitude is to approach Scripture with a humble submission. It is the Bible, God’s Word that has the power (if allowed), to eradicate the disease of sin and death and guide us into life. It is the Word that untangles the knots of sin and unearths the death which harbor in the soul and spirit.
The Bible is essential for every aspect of the spiritual life. It convicts of sin (Heb. 4:12); it converts the soul (Ps. 19:7): it cleanses the conscience (John 15:3); it consecrates the life (John 17:17); it corrects the wrong (II Tim. 3:16); it confirms the right (John 8:31); it instructs about salvation (II Tim.3:16-17); it comforts & encourages the heart (Ps. 119:50, 54); it guides (Prov. 6:23); it builds our faith (Acts 20:32); rejoices the heart (Ps. 19:8); and it also produces hope (Ps.119:49) . Those noted form only a partial list, but it is quite evident that the more we apply ourselves to the Bible, and see our Lord Jesus who is found in the Word, the better it will be for us in our living today, and into all of eternity. Two verses to consider approaching a new year with all the pondering of resolutions and goals, Psalm 119:11–– “Your word I have hidden in my heart…” and Psalm 37:31–– “The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.”
Maranatha! This could be the year, this could be the day!