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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Sharp (03/07/13)
“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. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” - Hebrews 4:12-13(New King James Version)

These verses jumped out at me today. Sure, God’s word is powerful, but my consideration of that had been in terms of the benefits of obeying God’s word - that doing so brings life.

These verses in Hebrews proclaim that the Word is not just wise guidance. It is far more active than that. It pierces and lays back the surface skin of us to reveal the truth of our soul and spirit. The truth... about the way we really compare to what God - the Word - is. The truth... about what we think, we crave, we intend to do. About what we love, we hate, we avoid, we fear, we ignore.

We strive to keep these things hidden inside. After all, why should we display our weaknesses when we can go on looking strong and powerful and righteous? Nice try, but we deceive ourselves. The Word is there, piercing in like a laser. We might fool the world, we might fool ourselves, but we cannot escape the ever-present Word that discerns the truth about us.

Now I see I need to submit to the Word, allowing its power to slash through my layers of pride, prejudice, impatience, false wisdom, love of worldly things and selfishness. I need to see my sins lying there on the kitchen counter, cut out from the healthy body and exposed for what they are: unsavory innards that need to be thrown away.

Thanks be to God, He stands ready to sanctify us even in plain sight of our own weak reality. The next three verses of Hebrews 4 give us that assurance:

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Can we find this mercy and grace without fully understanding and considering how the Word has revealed the truth in us? Yes, I am sure we can. The Word and its grace are there regardless of our level of comprehension. Thank God for that! But how much stronger and deeper our conversion will be when we strive only to see the beauty of God's image reflected in the shiny blade of the powerful sword.

Dear Lord, as I study your Word, help me recognize and admit my weaknesses. Thank you for your assurance that if strive to be more as your Word declares I should be, I will become more as the way you created me to be: In your image. How glorious that will be! Amen.
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This article has been read 746 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
03/17/13
Well stated.
Hebrews 10:26-31
C D Swanson 
03/18/13
A very strong and loving devotional...powerfully done.

God bless~
Virgil Youngblood 
03/20/13
Your devotional is clearly articulated and makes for thoughtful reading. I think, since you asked, the word "innards" works fine. It is the things within that need pruning and innards expresses that clearly. Well done.
Alicia Renkema
03/20/13
This was a very lovely and well thought out devotion. You did an excellent job in bringing home all of the points of how God's word pierces and divides within the joints and marrow to get at the truth of our souls. Thank you. I totally think you have a knack for devotional writing and will look forward to reading more in the future. God's blessings on you...
lynn gipson 
03/20/13
I enjoyed this very much. Most of my life was lived keeping things inside, so afraid if others knew the real me they would not like me.
This is very interesting and well written. Keep writing.
Lillian Rhoades 
03/20/13
Your devotional was well organized and the progression of thought was easy to follow.

A bit of red ink here..."surface skin of us." A rewording might be a little less awkward. I don't think "of us" is needed, but "our surface skin" might be the way to go.

You did a great job of connecting with the reader.
Christina Banks
03/21/13
You've given a good point to ponder. It is human nature to want to appear strong, as if strength makes us a better person. But when we humble ourselves to the Word, we don't become weak, but meek like Christ. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/23/13
Congratulations on ranking 6th in level one!