The Power Of His Word

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. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Hebrews 4:12-13

One of my God-given roles as a wife is to be my husband’s helper. While I heartily embrace this, there are times when I don’t find it easy to live up to that role, especially when it requires me to do something I don’t feel like doing.

Recently Mark asked me to help him by making a phone call early in the morning. I was reluctant to do it because I was in the middle of my Bible study and I knew it would mean spending a lot of time waiting through endless prompts. (I’m sure the day’s study had to do with putting others’ needs above our own.)

As I sat there, the Holy Spirit nudged my reluctant heart and cut through my bad attitude while I was reading God’s Word. Here are a few thoughts He brought to my mind:

Where did that selfish, sinful attitude come from? (Answer: Mark 7:21-23)

I forget so quickly there is a war going on in my soul! (Galatians 5:17)

But Lord, I want to be like You. (Colossians 3:12-13)

God’s Word shows me what I am really like, and I am eternally grateful for that. Talk about “cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow”! It sounds like an amputation, and it feels like one, too, when our “innermost thoughts and desires” are exposed! No wonder I hurt when I sin against God. The best part of this problem? Jesus! He died on the cross and paid the price for all of our sins forever.

“Lord, thank You that I am not alone and completely undone in this struggle. Even Paul, your faithful servant, struggled with sin, but he also reminded us of our Rescuer!”

Thank God for His vital and powerful Word! Read about the apostle Paul’s struggle with sin in Romans 7:21–8:2.