12 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
I’ve seen a few videos of famous people listing the 10 most essential things in their lives, ranging from a pair of slippers to sunglasses to a watch. They’d have a hard time parting with these, so integral they are to their lives, but perhaps more importantly, to their style. I’ve gone through this thought process too, and I can list 10 essentials easily, but none more vitally important than the Word of God. It is easy to find 10 essentials in the verse above alone, and then some, and doing what it says will certainly get you “style points,” not particularly with others, but with its writer. As You Tubers are fond of saying, “Let’s dive right in.”
The “word” of which we speak is not that of man, but of God. If I directly quote a verse in the Bible, it’s not me that’s doing the talking. Granted, applicability, context and exegesis is important, but what is said is not born in my head, but in the Creator’s. Just reading the cross-references listed for this verse alone will get you almost to ten of its benefits.
Jeremiah 23:29
“Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
Ephesians 5:26
So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.
Hebrews 6:5
…and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.
1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
The word of God is like a sledgehammer and grease-cutting soap applied to our bad attitudes and sin. It’s chock-full of essential vitamins and minerals that go down easy. It will permanently take root in our hearts. It won’t be just passing through. It won’t be in one ear and out the other. Its truths are everlasting and powerful.
The customs and morays of society have been proven time and time again to serve no enduring purpose. They were guardrails in a day gone by, but they are easily dismantled or scaled. Not so with God’s word. It is uniquely able to judge our thoughts and intentions which are oblivious to others. Its truths digs deep into our soul and ferret out any thing contrary to his laws and purposes. Here’s what Stephen said about Moses in his sermon before he was stoned.
Acts 7:38
“This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.”
Today we do not need to seek out a man of God, or an angel, or a psychologist, or a recluse in a dank poorly lit apartment to receive truth. Living oracles, perhaps multiple copies, sit on our dusty bookshelves or as apps on our phones. Some of us even possess software that not only contains multiple translations of the word, but tools to dissect and examine it, and the comments of great men who spent lifetimes interpreting its meanings. There’s really no excuse with regard to access to it or to gain understanding from it. They must be found and eaten.
Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart. Jeremiah 15:16
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