Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
My Dad gave me a knife nearly four decades ago. It had a nice leather belt case. I proceeded to do what most kids do with things they don’t fully appreciate. I lost the case. I left the knife outside on numerous occasions. I let it get rusty. I ignored it for years , enamored with new things that seemed more stylish. I never lost it, but my own immaturity allowed it to be neglected for many years. Recently I began cleaning it and trying to make it look nice so I could carry it again. I guess Father’s day and the loss of my Dad two and a half years ago brought out something in me that made me want to reconnect with not only the knife, but I suppose more significantly, the one who gave it to me. I reached out to a family member that makes beautiful knives and asked him if he could possibly make me a sheath for it, like the one I’d lost. He said yes and did an amazing job. It’s a little larger than your standard pocket knife, so the sheath helps me carry it without filling my pockets. It makes me happy and I feel connected to Dad in a tangible, daily way.
Knives always make me think of Hebrews 4:12. The word of God cuts. The word of God exposes. I think sometimes we let ourselves ignore the daily reading of the word of God for those very reasons. Some say “I’m not a reader.” Others say “It’s hard to understand”. I recall a quote from Mark Twain where he said he didn’t have any problem with the things in the Bible that he didn’t understand. His main struggle was with those things that were as plain as the nose on your face. Things like “Love your enemies and do good to those that use you”…. Or maybe, “take up your cross and follow me”… And not the least of the plain scary stuff “if you love me, you will obey me.” A daily examination of scripture and our lives in its light can be painful, but it is necessary.
Lots of things seem more interesting than the Bible. It’s easy to use verses to encourage ourselves and others and ignore the parts of scripture that challenge the claims we make and the lives we live. No matter how we use or misuse it, it is still the voice of our Father speaking to us. Walking with it daily connects us to Him in a powerful way. It has the power to transform. God gave us a promise concerning His word. It won’t fail. It will go out and will accomplish His will. It won’t return void. There’s no other thing on this planet that can make such claims. Talk to your Father in prayer. Let him talk to you in the pages of His Word.