The Word of God…Is Able

When we encounter in the New Testament its claims about what the “Word of God” is capable of doing, we are stretched in our imagination to comprehend those audacious claims. What really challenges my own understanding is what the New Testament authors claim for Jesus as Logos, the Word. This especially comes to the forefront of the discussion when considering the following text from Hebrews:

¹² For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13).

            Four characteristics of this word (logos) stand out.

·         The Word of God is alive.

·         The Word of God is active.

·         The Word of God penetrates.

·         The Word of God judges.

If indeed some understanding of the word of God includes Jesus in the flesh, Jesus risen, and Jesus seated at the right of God, then it would make sense for the Word of God to be described this way!

            The word of God is living. He is living at this present moment, and gives life.        

He is also active or “energetic.” This energy is the divine force of God’s Spirit which animates the written word so that it reveals to us  the Word as the incarnation of God. This same Word penetrates and judges. The Word has the power to penetrate the inner being of the person. Consequently, thoughts and attitudes of the heart cannot be hidden from God. The Word of God is able to see what the eye cannot see, and hear what the ear cannot hear.

            We praise God that His Word is able to be alive and active, penetrating and judging. Living the “uncovered and bare” life before God is the only way to a healthy spirituality. This openness asks for and desires God’s probing word so that our hearts can remain pure and undefiled before God. A clean heart is a precious thing in God’s sight. The Word of God is so powerful that it can perform heart surgery on me. If I allow God the freedom to do His work (He is the one to whom we must give an account), then I can take advantage of the rest in Christ that God provides, and the sympathizing ear of the Great High Priest, Jesus Himself.

            As Christian leaders it is imperative that we allow and permit the Word of God, Jesus the Logos, to penetrate our souls and judge our motives. We have to realize that nothing is hidden before God in our leadership role, and that it is God to whom we must give account.

            Through the years I have been shocked and astounded by Christian leaders who act as if they are accountable to no one. The use and abuse of power is justified because certain “results” are desired. The competitive, capitalistic paradigm of the marketplace where movers and shakers are idolized becomes the operative paradigm for Christian leaders who act as if they are not “uncovered and naked” before God.

            The Word of God is able, Jesus the Logos is able, God and the Spirit are able to shape me into the Christian leader I need to be. We as Christian leaders have to model for others the humility that comes from being exposed to the “living” and “energetic” Word of God. Being sharper than any double-edge sword, this same Word penetrates way down deep into my very soul and psyche, uncovering hidden motives and selfish desires that have nothing to do with servant-leadership.

            When will we Christian leaders boldly stand before the penetrating Word? People are dying on the vine, so to speak, for lack of Christian mentors who can model this in humility. May we allow God’s word to shape us into the very image of Christ for the sake of others!

In Christian love, Curtis

A Sabbath Rest for the People of God (Hebrews 4:1-11)

The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) provides many fundamental concepts rooted in stories that are the foundation of the Christian faith. For instance, the story of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt becomes the redemptive model for deliverance from sin and captivity. Just as the flood washed away the old world and created a new one, that imagery lies behind the washing of renewal in Christian baptism. Consequently, when the writer of Hebrews appropriates God’s resting from creation and Israel’s denied a rest in the promised land, we are not surprised.

            Perhaps the most surprising thing is that the writer of Hebrews believes it is a legitimate move to appropriate the past rest of Israel and God for a present Sabbath rest for the people of God. This metaphorical move is a rhetorical strategy to engage his readers in helping to create an understanding of a disobedient people and what they short-changed themselves of.

            The hardest thing for many Christians to do is read this paragraph (Hebrews 4:1-11) without creating a legalistic requirement for some sort of Christian Sabbath practice, or even proclaiming that Sunday is the Christian Sabbath. That is far removed from what the writer of Hebrews is doing here.

            The offer is to rest from the labors of their Christian journey (implying that they only stop when they are either martyred or they die from natural causes), in a similar way in which God ceased from His labors at creation. So, “while the readers are like the Israelites in that they are on a journey and are invited to enter God’s rest, they must be diligent to be unlike the Israelites in the matter of falling short due to disobedience” [Fred Craddock (1998). “Hebrews”: NIB Commentary Series. p. 52. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.]

            The Sabbath rest can be conceived of in several ways for Christians today: resting in God’s comforting presence, faithful & loving on-going relationship with God, prayerfully on a daily basis leaving our burdens in God’s lap through the power of the risen Christ, taking the time to enjoy divine blessings everyday as we walk hand in hand with our Savior, etc. “God rested and invites others into that rest with all the blessings attendant to the presence of God!”

            This is much different from some sort of legalistic pronouncement that we have to honor every Sunday as a Christian Sabbath and not do anything. That approach misses the tenor and scope of what the writer of Hebrews is after!

            So…are we taking advantage of the divine rest because of our faithful obedience?

Christian leaders need to model and demonstrate a “restful” life in Christ. Because of faithful obedience leaders provide a deeply spiritual and healthy model of tending to their relationship with God. They take seriously mentoring others and imitating Jesus Christ. This “Sabbath rest” for Christian leaders today may take on a variety of forms depending on the needs and calling of individual Christian leaders.

            Many Christian leaders are “driven” and do not know how to rest, nor even how to tell others to rest in God’s presence. It is out of this restful and prayerful center that Christian leaders can discern and lead with a wise, spiritually mature stance. From such a center, the Christian leader takes time to tap into the resurrection power of Jesus. From such a center, the Christian leader walks in step the Spirit. From such a center, the Christian leader demonstrates the heart of God.

            This Sabbath rest is a way of life. In order for it to remain a way of life, each Christian leader needs to know herself or himself well enough to know how to let God, Christ and the Spirit to provide those restful resources for their own soul. Taking time to allow God fill our well with living water ensures that we are inviting others to drink from the fountain of living water rather than from our own depleted resources.

            So, is the Sabbath rest a way of life for us in order that we may invite others to the well of living water?

 In Christian love, Curtis