Hebrews 4:12

Posted at January 7, 2010

Hebrews 4:12

12 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.

The Word of God ( the Bible, Jesus ) lights us up! It disassembles us into our basic components. Soul, Spirit, Body. It shines God’s Love on those parts and lets us see ourselves for what we are. It draws clear lines between our sin nature, and who God Created us to be. God’s Word can bring all our components together into something that makes sense.

I gave focusing my whole self a try after an awesome sunday school lesson on this subject…

Bringing it all into focus does mean you need to submit it all to God. This isn’t some “new age empowerment” but a chance to worship and serve God by allowing His Love and Word to unite you in that worship.

The Psalms are an excellent place to start if you’re interested in understanding how to let God’s Word bring you together into one whole functioning person. As you read them pay attention to how the writer uses these words: soul, spirit, flesh, body, heart. Watch how in particular they are references during times of negative and positive emotions.

Matthew 22:36-40

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”