Sword

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

God's word is powerful. It's not just some old, dead text, to be consigned to a museum. Even to this day it convicts us of our inadequacies, and of our need of God.

Our souls are our eternal selves. When our bodies die, our souls live on, either in union with God, or estranged from Him for eternity. We are naturally dead spiritually: we need God to make us alive in Christ.

We might be able to hide our heart thoughts and attitudes from those close to us, but God's word exposes us. It convicts us of our sins. Even if we've been deluding ourselves that we're okay, the Bible doesn't give us that luxury.

Holy Scriptures are sharp. They're more like a surgeon's scalpel than a Viking's axe. They help us to cut away all that is amiss in our lives.

'God, we thank You for Your word. We're grateful for its clinical work in our lives, and pray that You would give us the humility to allow it to do so. For Your glory, amen'

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