September 2010

08.30.2010

Before a surgeon can perform a procedure, he has to first open the patient. In other words, he has to expose the disease or problem. In the same way that is what God’s Word does to us; it exposes us. God says in Heb 4:12-13:

“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. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (NASB)

This verse and others like it penetrate and expose our sinful hearts and darkness; the Word exposes us for who we really are. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God’s Word is living and active. This means that the Bible has God’s power to change us. The Bible is not some static history book full of old stories of long ago in a far away land. It is so much more than that, so let us never think of it as simply a history book.

Here’s a truth from God’s Word, God did not call you just to save you, He wants to change you; I Thessalonians says “For this is the will of God, your sanctification,” and He gave us the Bible as our primary source for change. God’s Word changes us because it is living and active.

Hebrews 4 continues by describing the Word as a two-edged sword. A two-edged sword is what a soldier would use when he wanted to cut deeply into the body, giving maximum penetration and exposure. Exposure to God’s Word is exposure to God Himself. These are God’s words and He is constantly with us, looking at us and seeing us for who we really are.

The word for laid bare in Hebrews 4:13 is a word that was used in the ancient world for when a person was found guilty of a crime, and as he was being led to the edge of the city to be executed, they would stick a dagger under his chin. With the knife under his chin, he couldn’t hang his head in shame for the crime he had committed, so he would have to hold his head up. Criminals couldn’t hide their shame or hide their identity from all those they had committed a sin against. This is what God’s Word does in our life – it exposes us for who we truly are.

God’s word sheds light on our darkness, and everything about us is laid open and bare for the Lord to see. Yet, in the midst of exposure, there is still hope, because we have a God who loves us and will forgive us if we ask Him to. Once we have accepted His forgiveness, we can become whom God has created us to be. There is no more hiding sin, no more false pretenses—everything is laid open and bare before the Lord; it is a truly freeing experience, and we can begin to change because we have accepted what God’s Word has said about us.

God’s Word ~ it’s alive, powerful, and it penetrates deep down to the soul.

Remember, we’re all in this together and I’m pulling for ya’! Bro. Danny

Posted by arbc at 11:08 AM