A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

“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.” Hebrews 4:12 NLT

     What do we mean when we say God’s word is alive?  We mean that it’s active.  It can seize the conscience of a sinner and cut him to the heart.  It can also “comfort him and bind up the wounds of the soul.” ¹ It is also very powerful.  The Word of the Lord can convince, convert and comfort with power.   It can pull down the strong holds of the enemy               (2 Corinthians 10:4-5), raise the dead, heal the deaf and blind, cause mutes to speak and lame men to walk.  God’s Word is so powerful that it can crush Satan’s kingdom and build the kingdom of Christ upon its ruins.  Never doubt the supreme power of the Word of God.

     It is said that wielding a two-edged sword is far more dangerous than a single edge blade.  The double-edged sword cuts both on the forward and backward stroke.  The meaning of it cutting between joint and marrow is simply that it cuts into our most intimate parts of the body.  It is a symbolic reference that represents cutting off “the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life”. ²

     God knows our deepest thoughts and the intents of our heart.  The Word of God helps us stay on the path set before us.  Conviction from the Holy Spirit and from scripture is designed not to break us and leave us broken, but rather to break us down with the sole purpose of building us up more in His image.  This is the reason why it is so critical that we spend time in His Word.  It is the lifeblood of the Christian.  Without the Bible to guide us we are like a rudderless ship without a compass.  Living without God’s direction would be like driving down a narrow, winding mountain road at 90 mph in the dark with your headlights off.   Lay yourself bare before the Creator of the universe and surrender your will over to the One who knows you better than you know yourself.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

¹  Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Old & New Testament.

²  “For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.”  (1 John 2:16)

“People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” 1 Peter 1:24-25a