A local carpet cleaning business offers an illuminating service for their customers, showing them their need to remove pet stains and odors from their carpets. The cleaning specialists darken the room and then turn on a powerful black light. The black light exposes all the drops and dribbles that are present on the carpet, walls, curtains, furniture and even the lampshades. According to the owner of the business, one homeowner begged him to shut off the light, moaning, “I can’t bear to see it anymore.” The offense was there all the time but was invisible until the right light exposed it.
The writer of Hebrews saw God’s Word as the right light for believers. For him, the purpose of the Scriptures is not only to lead people to salvation (2 Timothy 3:14-15), but it is also intended to lead believers to maturity in faith by its rebuke and correction. He used a metaphor to declare the Bible’s power in accomplishing God’s purpose of transformation. He said the Word is a double-edged sword-the kind of sharp, compact sword that Roman soldiers used in close combat. The sword’s double edges made it ideal for “cut and thrust” warfare.
In other words, the Word is able to pierce through the outer layers of our defensive self-deception, just as a knife passes through the skin. It is able to delve deep into our inner lives, evaluating our motives, intentions, and attitudes and exposing everything that’s hidden.
For the writer of Hebrews, the purpose of the Word of God is to probe, diagnose, expose, and heal the human heart—in totality. As Jesus-followers, let’s slow down, find a quiet place, open our hearts, and spend time each day in God’s Word—experiencing the enabling grace and piercing light of its work within us.
More:
• Psalm 19:12-13
• 1 Cor. 10:11-12
Keneld on April 5, 2009 at 7:04 am
Excellent message …..so profound yet you made it so simple to understand……Gods word is so powerful…….Thanks
marvin williams on April 6, 2009 at 5:00 am
Thanks for the encouragement. I am convinced we make the Bible’s message much more difficult than it is. I am on a quest to practice what I already know before I ask God to illuminate something new. Blessings on you! Have a great productive week.
enid on April 5, 2009 at 8:18 am
taste and see that the Lord is good…indeed his word gives us the confidence to believe and trust him all the more amidst the trials that we were facing. there were times that we seemed to be giving up, but then again the holy spirit, time and again taught us to trust his word all the more. it is very sufficient to read his word, ponder the things that we learn from him and put that into practice.
abalderama on April 5, 2009 at 1:04 pm
When I think about what you’re saying, I think about Psalm 51:7 (King James Version)
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
As my relationship with the Lord became stronger and he revealed himself in the word, he began to bring my past to my table, things I had forgotten that I had done. But each time he brought something, he brought me through it.
Our Father is truly amazing – thank you Marvin!
gjhs03 on April 5, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I enjoyed today’s devotional. I would like to know
if you are connected in any way with “Men of
Integrity” by Promise Keepers because they had
the exact same story in their devotional
today?
marvin williams on April 5, 2009 at 3:41 am
I am glad this post was a blessing to you!
tom felten on April 5, 2009 at 8:11 pm
gjhs03,
I’m glad you enjoyed today’s devotional by Marvin Williams. Per you question, ODJ is not connected with PK.
marvin williams on April 6, 2009 at 5:05 am
I could not have said it better. The interesting thing I am finding out about God’s word is it will cut me in one swoop and heal me and comfort me in the next. His word is sufficient for us amidst difficult times. It is sufficient, however, when we obey its principles. Enid, thanks for your words of wisdom. Keep working out what God has worked in by his grace.
marvin williams on April 6, 2009 at 5:09 am
Wow! What a God we serve! It seems like the Holy Spirit is engaging you in the spiritual discipline of self-examination for the purpose of greater sanctification. This is a process that hurts, but as you clearly stated, it is a process that brings healing to your soul. Keep giving the Holy Spirit room to examine and unearth. Blessings on you!