"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, NASB)
I think that sometimes we underestimate the power that the Word of God has. I think that all of us have a general sense that we need to change - that we need to be made more like Jesus. And we think that God is going to do this in some mystical sense. But it would seem that He has made it clear to us exactly how he is going to change us. James refers to the Word of God as a mirror that we should examine in order to know what to change, but this passage in Hebrews tells us that the Word is the surgical tool that God wields in order to reveal the very inner parts of who we are and what we think and feel.
Paul tells Timothy to trust the power of the Word to teach, to reprove, to correct and to train in righteousness. He tells him that the Scriptures are able to make us equipped for every good work. And yet for many this powerful Word simply sits on the shelf. Or in our lap. It may be read but it is rarely used to teach ourselves, to reprove ourselves, to correct ourselves or to train ourselves in righteousness. Instead we use it to get a few inspiring thoughts that we imprint on T-shirts or pillows or hang as a picture on our wall. We reduce the Bible to another poster like the cat that encourages us to "hang in there." And in so doing we miss the power of God.
Don't miss this critical tool in the arsenal of a soldier of Jesus Christ. It is our sword, one that we should first allow God to use to change us and then that we should use readily and often as we strive to serve our Lord and Savior.
