Cutting right to the heart of the matter

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. - Hebrews 4v12

I have to admit that I still find Hebrews a challenging study, and indeed and challenging devotional read. I have studied it, preached out of it, and taught the whole book; and yet I still am challenged and questions constantly rise to the fore.

I am therefore glad to come across verses that are clear and obvious in their meaning. Even though there are times when the word of God is difficult for our human minds to grasp, one truth remains – it is still alive and powerful and has the ability to cut right to the core of the matter in our hearts. It alone has the ability to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.

You and I can look at a person and make some determinations by a person’s lifestyle. We can clearly say something like, ‘That person is not behaving like a Christian.’ But the truth is that only God’s word can discern their thoughts and intents. It is the only think powerful enough to cut right to the quick. That is why it is so powerful and why we are called upon to boldly proclaim it.

Let us never forget that as we hear God’s word preached, as we study it on our own, and as we spend time daily in it, that it is more than just words on a page (or a computer screen.) It is alive, it is powerful, it is sharper than any two-edged sword, it is able to divide soul and spirit and joints and marrow, it discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Nothing cuts to the heart like the ever dynamic word of God.