Sharper

Today’s Scripture Selection: Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is living 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.”

I absolutely love this passage of scripture.

It gets to the heart of how I view, and revere, the Bible.

Scholars argue over it, others dismiss it, some place it on the shelf and now and then dust it, but I pick it up and look at this amazing thing that is “living and active” which is definitely “sharper than any double-edged sword.”

It has penetrated so often, dividing my soul and spirit, cutting right down to joint and marrow, to lay open the thoughts and attitudes of my heart.

And though that has sometimes been painful – thank God for it.

How about you?

How do you view the scripture? Is it just a book? Is it more? Is it holy? Is it confusing? Is it clear as crystal? Is it confounding? Is it comforting? Is it frightening? Is it a beloved companion? Is it dusty and old? Is it new and fresh?

Is it all – part of – or none of the above?

I invite you to ask these questions.

And, most of all, I invite you to examine or re-examine your attitudes about the word of God.

Because, ultimately, that is what I believe it is.

I do not believe scripture passages are “the words of man about God” but somehow, mysteriously and wonderfully are the expression of the “word of God.”

How about you?

Prayer: Lord, open my heart, mind, soul, and spirit to your everlasting Word. AMEN.

By Paul Simrell

The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program. Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

View all of Paul Simrell's posts.