Sword of the Spirit
What a difference one year makes!
Last year was the first time in my life when I wasn’t in church on Easter Sunday. Although most of us had that same experience of watching church happen from our homes, the beautiful truth is that Easter wasn’t cancelled, and it never will be!
So, we celebrate again this weekend the greatest story every told—King Jesus conquered sin and death and made a way for us to be rescued from our sins through the blood-stained cross of Christ. Rejoice this weekend as you celebrate this truth!
The older I get, the more it seems that I long for heaven. The more aware I become of the brokenness of this world and the brokenness in my own heart, I desire that much more the reality of eternity spent with Jesus. This is one of the reasons why I am so thankful for the Word of God.
When Jesus ascended back into heaven, He didn’t leave us empty handed.
He gave us His Spirit—the very Spirit of God that indwells every believer—and He also gave us His written Word, which is our sword. He didn’t leave us defenseless. His Word is the very weapon He gave us to use to slay our enemy.
So, how are we doing with that?
I want us to take a look at just one verse together today, and I want us to read it in three different translations, in descending order.
We’ll start with the most accurate in translations (a word-for-word rendering from the original languages in which the Bible was written) and move down the scale of translation to the most readable (a paraphrased translation from the original languages that is more readable and easier to understand in modern-day English). I hope this simple method of Bible study opens your eyes that much more to the beauty and the power of the Bible. Ok, here we go!
“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.” Hebrews 4:12 (ESV—English Standard Version)
“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.” Hebrews 4:12 (NLT—New Living Translation)“For we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy, like a two-mouthed sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.” Hebrews 4:12 (TPT—The Passion Translation)
What differences stood out to you the most?
Which words and descriptions did you love?
This month at Arise, we will be focusing on the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and what I love so much about Hebrews 4:12 is that we are given a different perspective on this sword that we’ve been given—it’s used as a surgical tool on our own hearts.
The Bible should always be first a mirror into our own lives before we ever try to use it as a microscope into other’s lives.
The Word of God is intended to reveal the things in us that need to change, and our exposure to its truth is intended to transform us.
Friends, be encouraged by this!
God is intentional in every way in His pursuit of our hearts. He loves us enough to do the hard and painful work in us to bring healing and wholeness.
Sit with the Word today. Meditate on it. Allow it to expose whatever needs to be exposed in your heart.
God loves you that much to not leave you in your broken condition.
- Cherie Wagner, Arise Discipleship Lead
About Cherie
Founder of Neue Thing, Inc. and author of several Bible studies and books for women that encourage them to know and believe God’s Word, equip them to live it, and empower them to take it and transform this generation for Jesus Christ.
