For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart – Hebrews 4:12 (AMP)
I read this verse about 5 times tonight. In several different translations (I landed on the Amplified because it has the best explanation). I have continued to read it and marinate in its truth mostly because reading the Word of God is one of the two most contested areas for a Christian (the other is prayer).
If we can understand the weight of this verse – if we can really GET IT – I think we would grow to have such a conviction about reading the Word that it would become a massive non-negotiable in our lives.
In this verse, the word “word” is the Greek word logos, which is the word in John used to describe Jesus Himself. If you were drill down on each of the word meanings in Greek, you’d find a gold mine to dig out and chew over for yourself! This verse is rich and weighty. I believe it is also an invitation. Let me explain.
The verse begins by explaining that the Bible is alive. It’s active, it’s powerful…it’s JESUS in written format. It’s effective in our lives, and it is bread to us which assures that we will never go hungry (John 6:35). This alone makes me want to devour it in order to know Him better and keep myself sustained.
As if that wasn’t beautiful enough, the verse goes on to say that scripture is so sharp that it penetrates, dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. Up until recent years, I didn’t quite understand this fraction of the verse, the “dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow” part. I began to understand this concept when I began to read the Bible for more than just obligation, or to complete my devotion time. As I read the Word of God and invited Him to speak back to me, I would read certain portions of scripture and feel as if the places of earthly build-up were being scraped out of my inner world.
Like dental plaque that builds up on really healthy teeth, I had allowed some lies and defiled motives to begin to build up on the inside of my heart. Without exposing and dealing with these things quickly by running to Him through prayer and the Word and then leaving them on the cross, I was essentially letting gunk build up in my inner world. Taking time to read and digest JESUS in written format, I was allowing Him to cut into my inner life and giving Him full access to both expose as well as judge my thoughts and intentions. Rather like visiting the Dentist to have your teeth scraped of plaque so that you can remain shiny and clean, we sometimes have to walk through the process of allowing Jesus the Logos to penetrate and divide us on the inside.
Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? – Jeremiah 23:29
Hammers break strongholds, but they are also used to build. Fire destroys, but it also purifies; and in some places (such as Australia), fire – when properly looked after – cleans up the ecosystem and sparks new life. The beauty about Jesus the Man and Jesus the Word is that even when He judges, divides and exposes, He always realigns and rebuilds us into more of His image. It’s just who He is, and the nature of the Father.
This is a time in history that mandates that we stay in the Word more than ever in our lives. The invitation is to know Jesus the Logos, the written words of Jesus that are alive and ready to divide us internally. Digging deeper into His Word than perhaps we are used to doing, I believe we must also be yielded enough to allow Him to burn up, scrape out and replant good things in our hearts.
If you are currently doing only a few verses a day, or a simple devotion to check something off the Christian obligation list, may I challenge you to add 15 minutes to what you are already doing. Yes, there’s a personal cost – but the cost of NOT doing this carries much greater damage and destruction to your life in the long run.
Let Him pierce your heart. Let Him divide your intentions and judge the areas that need to be adjusted back into His image. Let Him scrape out the build-up and then wash over you with His love and affection that sparks new life inside of you. Let Him be your sustenance and watch yourself prosper even in the dry seasons (Psalm 1).
I hope that you find these articles encouraging! Please do share with your friends...abundant blessings on you
xoxo
Mandy
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