The Word of God is Alive and active

“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.” (Heb. 4:12 NIV)

The passage above tells important things we should know about the Word of God.

·      It is alive - not dead, alert and full of life, active, energetic, vigorous, vital, vivacious, exuberant. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John. 1:1 ESV). 

·      It is active - busy, energetic, lively, mobile, vigorous, dynamic.” So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:11 ESV).

·      It is sharper than a two edged sword - the notion that if two sides of the same blade are sharp, it cuts both ways. 

·      It penetrates the heart – the center of hidden emotional-intellectual-moral activity.“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7).

·      It divides the soul and spirit

- Soul is your inmost being, “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” (Psalm 193:1).

- Spirit is the immaterial part of you that “connects” with God, who Himself is spirit. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24 NKJV)

·      It divides the joints and marrow - The marrow of a bone is in the very core of the bone and the joint is the point of connection on the outside of the bone itself that joins it to another bone. Therefore, the Word of God is sharp enough to separate between the inside and the outside of the bone. 

·      It judges thoughts of the heart – idea, notion, opinion, view, impression, feeling, theory; judgment, assessment, conclusion. 

·      It judges the attitudes of the heart – viewpoint, outlook, perspective, stance, standpoint, position, inclination, temper, orientation, approach, reaction; opinion. 

Therefore

“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” (1Thess. 2:13 ESV)