The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12

Have you ever been cut with a knife? In college, a surgeon pierced deep into the cartilage of my knee with a very sharp scalpel. His intention wasn't to hurt me – although it was extremely painful – his purpose was to help me. Looking back now it is easy to say that I'm thankful for that surgery because the lasting benefits have certainly outweighed the temporary discomfort, but I was not so convinced at the time.

Another who cut me deeply while in college was Jesus Christ. The "sharp two-edged sword" of God's Word penetrated the hardness of my heart while I was a freshman at Michigan State University. At first, it pierced with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel and produced in me pain, and a deep sense of sorrow and repentance. But over time, the lasting benefits of His touch upon my life have far outweighed any temporary discomfort. Today His Word has become the source of my greatest joy and strength, enabling me to continue to grow in love with the Lord, and to live daily in His Presence.

A great example of the life-changing power of God's Word is found in the testimony of a man by the name of George Whitfield. Whitfield was an eighteenth century evangelist whose life and preaching influenced many for Christ. Because of this, he was mocked on a regular basis by an atheist group known as, The Hell Fire Club. One of the ways they mocked him was by impersonating him. One man, Mr. Thorpe, was well known for his excellent imitation of George Whitfield right down to the content of his message and the intonation of his voice. Once, in an effort to really impress the membership, he memorized an entire sermon that George Whitfield had given, and preached it, word for word. As his friends were all hooting and hollering, Mr. Thorpe later wrote that the Word of God had changed his life forever that night. As he was delivering that sermon amidst the raucous crowd he said, "something pierced me." The very words of Scripture that he had memorized and preached were so powerful and convicting that when he was done, he sat down and gave his life to Jesus Christ. He went on to become a prominent Christian leader in Bristol, England.

Hebrews 4:12, reminds us that the Word of God is indeed a sharp scalpel in the hand of our Great Physician. It will "pierce even to the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow" and produce life-changing results as we submit our lives to its instruction.

Challenge:  Are you spending time daily in His Word? Are you letting it perform surgery on you?

The Word of God is living, powerful, and penetrating, and when we allow it to come into our lives, it does so with all the precision and skill of a surgeon, yet with all the love and good intentions of our best friend – Jesus Himself.

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

– Psalm 119:11

In Him,

Lloyd Pulley
Senior Pastor