Sharper than a Double-Edged Sword

The Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit. — Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

Lord, thank You that nothing can separate me from Your redeeming love.

Since pit-dwelling is primarily a state of mind, effective deliverance also takes the ability to read people’s minds, because what we say often doesn’t match where we are. Only God can hang with us through the length and depth of our need. And the length and depth of our baloney. Maybe I’m just talking about myself, but whether or not I realized it, I usually found a way to frame my pit to make me look like a victim.

Not only is God omniscient, but His Word is “sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12) cutting our baloney so He can see straight through it.

He knows when we’re kidding others. He knows when we’re kidding ourselves. Knowing all we are, all we feel, and all we hide, God overflows with love and willingness to deliver us. Even after Israel sought the help of the Egyptians, inviting the chastisement of God, the prophet Isaiah testified, “The LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion” (Isaiah 30:18).

* * *

Your Turn

Do you and I have in common a tendency to frame our pit so we look like a victim? Describe a time, if any, when you did so—and then talk about why this perspective has such an appeal. Share the time from your own life that comes to mind when You think about God’s great compassion toward you—and thank Him for that. The Lord truly does long to be gracious to us. Camp on that thought for a while.