When I was a little girl, one of the songs I sang often was the song called "The B-I-B-L-E." The lyrics are simple yet significant. The first line says, "The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that's the book for me. I stand alone on the word of God, the B-I-B-L-E." These words still hold today. The Bible is the book for me, and because you are reading these daily devotions, I know it is the book for you, too. It has an impact. It is even a catalyst for heart transformation.
The author of the book of Hebrews teaches us just how powerful our words are in Hebrews 4. In this chapter, the author of Hebrews writes, "The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires" (verse 12). Make no mistake, my friends. The Bible is powerful. It is sharper than any sword. It can cut through anything. It has the power to change lives. The Bible is not just a book. It is God's very word to us. It shows us how to live, it calls us to repent, it reveals God's deep love for us, and it invites us to have a relationship with Him. We must never underestimate the power that God's word has to impact lives.
Because the Bible is alive and powerful, when it comes to fighting against the enemy and sharing our faith with others, we have to stay true to Scripture. That means sharing what Scripture says about our sins and salvation that is possible through Jesus. We must not shy away from what Scripture says. Our sin has separated us from God. While our sin is devastating, Scripture also teaches that we have a God who offers hope and eternal life when we confess our sins, repent, and turn to Him.
My friends, the Bible is powerful. It has the power to transform and change our lives. When we share our faith and the truth found in Scripture, we can have faith and trust in God's word to work and move in the lives of the people we share our faith with. We can share the truth of Scripture and the good news of Jesus Christ, knowing that God will use His word to transform lives. The question is, will we be bold enough to step out and share it with others?
Memorize Hebrews 4:12. As you approach Scripture, bring this verse to mind. As you share your faith, bring this verse to mind, remembering that the Bible truly does transform hearts and minds, and it can change the hearts and lives of the people you know who do not know Christ if they will take the time to read and study it.
"God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2 For this good news-that God has prepared this rest-has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God. 3 For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said,
"In my anger I took an oath:
'They will never enter my place of rest,'"
even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. 4 We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: "On the seventh day God rested from all his work." 5 But in the other passage God said, "They will never enter my place of rest."
6 So God's rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 7 So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:
"Today when you hear his voice,
don't harden your hearts."
8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
