The Word of God Is Living

For the word of God is living and active, 

sharper than any two-edged sword, 

piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, 

of joints and of marrow, and discerning 

the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

—Hebrews 4:12—

Most of us have probably heard and read Hebrews 4:12 many, many times. We often look to words that are written down in some old book as definitely not living and active, let alone sharper than any two-edged sword. Their ancient words written in languages that are no longer changing because they’re no longer being used. But these words—claiming to be from the One who created us all—are life! To neglect (or make light of) these words adversely affects us now, but especially in our eternal lives.

“Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Are we giving diligence to the study and meditation of God’s word? Are we occasional and haphazard in our studies, or diligent and focused? Is our “diligence” only when we come together with other Christians, or are we—on our own—reading God’s word and thinking about how these words of life apply to us and daily lives?

Even Satan knows the inherent power of God’s word for saving souls—as the Lord explained the parable of the sower who sowed seed everywhere, we read: “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved” (Luke 8:11–12).

One of the things the word of God provides us is a look into the past to help navigate life now. We’ve all heard variations of the following statement: “Those who don’t remember history are doomed to repeat it.” God’s word gives us an interactive series of history lessons teaching us about how our God dealt with sin: “Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later. In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden” (1 Timothy 5:24–25).

Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples . . . Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall (1 Corinthians 10:1–6, 11–12).

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

Are we willing to learn God’s lessons? How can we actually believe (because what we truly believe shows in how we’re living) that ignorance of God’s words and ways is, at all, beneficial? So then why do we maintain ignorance? Why are we not putting the time and effort into our knowledge of God’s mind as revealed to mankind through his holy apostles and prophets? (read 2 Peter 1:16–21; 3:14–18).

“This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9–11).

For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. . . . If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day (John 5:22–24; 12:47–48).

Get into the word of God, and allow it to get into you! It’s living and active . . . discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.