Week 39: Alive and Active

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): Hebrews 1-4
* Monday (the Law): Numbers 25-28
* Tuesday (history): II Chronicles 6-10
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 114-116
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 26-27
* Friday (prophecy): Obadiah
* Saturday (gospels): Acts 1-2

This week we start with the book of Hebrews. This probably is one of the most 'theological' books in the New Testament, and perhaps the entire Bible. There is soooo much good theology in that book about the importance of the salvation work of Jesus Christ, and how his sacrifice on the cross relates to the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament.

Our SOAP for this week is from this book, and it is hard to single out one verse...

Scripture
Hebrews 4:12-13: "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. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Observation
This verse comes right after a section where the writer of Hebrews talks about the disobedience of the people of Israel in the dessert, and how we are not to follow their example of disobedience. He tells us that God's word is alive and active in our lives, if we let it... It is like a sword that sifts through our thoughts and determines which thoughts are right, and which ones are not. There is nothing we can hide before God, not even our thoughts. All is laid bare before his eyes, and we have to give an account of all of our thoughts.

Application
At first sight, this is a scary passage! God knows all our thoughts, and there is nothing we can hide from him. Like Adam and Eve, we often like to hide from God when we sin. We think He doesn't see, and we hide in the bushes when we hear him approach.

When you give it a second thought though, this passage is actually really comforting. We don't have to hide from God, and we can't even if we wanted to. For me, personally, confessing my sin is the hardest part. I'm afraid what the other person is going to say or think about me. The fact that God already knows my sin, is actually comforting, how strange that may sound. I can just freely approach Him and tell Him: "Yes, Father, I screwed up again, and You know it! Please forgive me once again..."

This passage also tells me that God's word is the plumb line that I can use to examine my thoughts. His word is alive and active, if you let it be alive and active! If you come with an open mind and heart, and ask God to reveal Himself to you through his word, He will do so! You might not like the response at first, but if you let his word be alive and active, a beautiful change is going to happen, and your life will be transformed. It says so in this passage. God's word will uncover all your 'not-so-holy' thoughts, and replace them with righteous thoughts that honor Him.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father. We thank you for your word that is alive and active, even and maybe especially today. We pray Lord that you uncover our thoughts, and lay bare all our thoughts that are not of you. Replace them with thoughts that are inspired by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Have a great week, and let God's word penetrate your heart.

In Him,

Dick