Tag: discerning thought and intentions
God’s Surgery Scalpel
Scripture reading for October 17: Hebrews 4
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:9-13
God knows all things and sees all things. God’s Word was used to create all things and now sustains all things. God’s people are called to trust God’s eternal Word and rest in the Truth He has declared. We cannot add to God’s Word or His work. We cannot work to earn our place in His family, we can only rest in His works on our behalf. Faith chooses to rest and say “amen” to what God’s Word declares.
God knows each of us as if we stood naked before Him. His Word is active and alive in each person’s life. That is why we should humbly listen to what God has said. His Word is alive with His life and can bring us His life in the form of new birth and adoption into His eternal family. His Word can pierce deeply inside of us and do the surgery that is necessary. It can cut out the old heart that is dead in trespasses and sins and install a new heart that enables us to do His will. It can discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts when the true intentions may be hidden by us or from us. By faith we invite God’s Word to do surgery on our thoughts, motives, and actions of our body. As we rest in His eternal Word, we can have assurance of His seeing our heart of faith and being pleased when we are called to give an account.
Have you ever had God do a deep probe into your heart and expose hidden thoughts or motives? Have you ever tried to hide something from God or yourself? Are you ready right now to give an account before Jesus should He come?
Prayer: Father God, thank you for expanding my world view to better allow God’s Word to do surgery on me. Although I think I am open before You and transparent, bring any hidden thing needing attention to light. Help me to live each day in the Sabbath rest that Your people are called to enjoy daily. Amen.