“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.” [Hebrews 4:12 HCSB]
I came across an article yesterday about Bible Verses that every Christian should know by heart. One such verse is above, Hebrews 4:12. Why do I think it is necessary to know that verse by heart when there are so many others?
First, because it tells us that the Bible is unlike any other book we can ever read. The Bible is the Word of God and as such, it is a “living” Word. Other books we read may produce an intellectual, emotional, or social effect, but the Word of God, the Bible, produces a supernatural, effective change within a person’s soul.
A second thing we should always remember is that the Word of God is “able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.”
Because the Bible is alive, it READS us. It sees our ideas and thoughts. It knows what is in our heart. It judges us. That is both a comforting and a scary process. When I sit down and open my Bible and begin to read, the Word of God sees what is in my heart and moves through the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal and to change what is wrong and to encourage what is right.
It is extremely easy to get people to read books ABOUT the Bible … because those books are the works of men and women. Very easy to fill our intellect with another’s thoughts and ideas about what is read.
It is much harder to get people to read their Bibles – because once that book is opened it begins to judge and to work. It means when confronted and convicted, change will be required.
