During last night’s Bible study, in a discussion of Hebrews 4:12-13, the teacher asked the question, “What makes the word of God living and active?” Three ideas almost immediately came to my mind.
First, we consider the words on a page “living and active” when they carry authority. Words are living and important because of their source. A summons to appear in court is living and active because of its source and authority. Without an appropriate source (or more accurately, the recognition of the authority of the source), words are lifeless and meaningless.
Words are living and active when they are based on and reflect meaningful relationships. This is a cold explanation of the warm words that appear in love letters. Letters from friends, family, loved ones are living and active because they are part of the relationships of our lives. I have less interest in the love letters of persons unknown to me, more interest in the love letters of my grandparents, and even more in the letters my wife and I shared as we dated, some of which we still have.
Finally, words are living and active because they are important and apply to our lives. This is illustrated by the amount of junk mail we throw way. We throw away those items that appear to have no application. My step-mother told me yesterday about receiving a check from the electric cooperative. The check was for a balance due to members from 1983. She was tempted to throw away the letter without opening it, because she had no reason to believe it contained anything living and active. When she opened it, she saw the application (and went to the bank and deposited the check). This also illustrates that we may not always immediately recognize that words are living and active and applicable.
May God help us today to see his word in its power and ability, not only because of its authority, but because it is a reflection of a loving relationship between God and his creation, and because it provides help and strength when applied to our lives.