Discerner, Judge, Evaluator...My Light

Hey, Y'all,

The other day I ran across this verse I hadn't thought about in a while--good to remember it. It's Hebrews 4:12, and here's how it sounds in a few different versions, a great way BTW to understand subtly different shades of meaning from texts--you should try it, you'll see how much richer your understanding of the passage becomes. Also BTW, BibleGateway.com is a very user-friendly (and free!) on-line resource--check it out.

Here it is in the NKJV: 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 this is what it sounds like in The Message: His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it, no matter what.

Love that, and gotta say I have found it to be true--His word, His Spirit's work on my heart and mind, have a way of cutting through the noise and the clutter and lay me open to myself, clearing away "doubt and defense" and allowing me to discern the truth about "the thoughts and intents of my heart," or as the NLT puts it, "It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires," something I might not necessarily see real clearly. Is this always fun? No. Is it always enlightening and a good thing? Definitely.

The Amplified Bible explains it like this: For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (the soul) and the spirit, and of joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

So here's praying for you today...may you have clarity and understanding, and subsequently His peace that passes understanding (for more on that check out Philippians 4:6,7 and John 14:27).