Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 24
Sunday


A POWERFUL
WORD

READ:
Hebrews 4:12-13
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The Word of God is
living and powerful,
and sharper than any
two-edged sword.
__Hebrews 4:12
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When a teenager named Poh Fang learned about Jesus' love for her and received Him as her Savior, her parents weren't sure about the merits of Christianity. So they sent her older sister with her to church to keep an eye on her. But something happened that they didn't expect. The powerful Word of God penetrated the heart of the older sister, and she accepted Jesus as her Savior as well.

The psalmist said of the Word of God, "Your precepts...have given me life" (Ps. 119;93). That's the testimony of Poh Fang and her sister and of all who know Christ as Savior. His Word is "powerful...and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).

God's Word shows us our sin and its consequences: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23); "the wages of sin is death" (6:23). It tells us of God's love and salvation: "God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us...made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" (Eph. 2:4-5). And it gives wisdom for daily living: "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Ps. 119:105).

Thank You, Lord, for Your powerful Word, which gives us life and direction for daily living. __Anne Cetas
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````````````````The Bible stands like a rock undaunted`````````````
```````````````````'Mid the raging storms of time;````````````````
````````````````Its pages burn with the truth eternal,``````````````
`````````````And they glow with a light sublime. __Lillenas``````````
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Many books inform, but only one transforms--
the Bible

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Hebrews 4:12-13***********

12 For 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. 13 And there is no
creature hidden from His
sight, but all things are
naked and open to the eyes
of Him to whom we must
give account.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Bible uses many metaphors to describe itself and its usefulness;
lamp/light (Ps. 119:105, 130), mirror (James 1:22-25), snow, water,
rain (Isa. 55:10-11; Eph. 5:26), food/bread (Job 23:12; Jer. 15:16;
Matt. 4:4), gold/silver (Ps. 19:10; 119:72), fir (Jer. 5:14; 20:9;
23:29; Luke 24:32), hammer (Jer. 23:29), seed (Luke 8:11; 1 Peter
1:23), and honey (Ps. 19:10; 119:103; Prov. 24:13; Ezek. 3:1-3).
In this passage (Heb. 4:12), the Word of God is likened to a sword
and to a discerner or judge. The sword reminds us that we are in
warfare; the two-edged sword is both our offensive and defensive
weapon (Eph. 6:11-17). It pierces and penetrates into our inner
lives as judge, analyzing and exposing our attitudes and actions, our
convictions and conduct. __SIM KAY TEE