Daily Devotion – October 7, 2021 – Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison

Hebrews 4:12-16
4:12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
4:13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
4:14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.
4:16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This passage from the Letter to the Hebrews is at the same time frightening and hopeful, realistic and optimistic, because of the nature of God and God’s word.

I want to particularly focus on the first verse: “the word of God is living and active.”

I do not think most of us think of the Word of God as alive and active, but Luther surely did. He and others called God’s Word the viva vox, literally the living voice of God.

That is why for 30 years my colleagues and I at Church Innovations kept the practice of Dwelling in the Word before every single meeting we had with one another and with people who would become our partners. We would rest for 20 minutes or so in a text, usually Luke 10:1-12. We would ask one person to read it aloud, we would let some silence unfold, and we would listen as each person said what words particularly jumped out to her or to him that day. Or, even better, when there were enough people, we would pair up and hear those same thoughts from a partner and then share our partner’s thoughts and observations and questions with the whole group.

The Word is a living Word. I have no doubt of this fact. We would be in a passage of scripture I had read many times and something new would arise. EVERY TIME. The Holy Spirit knew when to tap someone on the shoulder or give them boldness enough to ask a question that was really bothering them that day. And such deep listening to the Word and to one another transformed our relationships. And because we were always learning from the Word and from one another, we were in fact bolder to approach the throne, as verse 16 says. We knew God and God’s mercy and grace were also behind us and beneath us in whatever we undertook to do.

Yes, God is big and powerful and in charge of the universe, but God is also sympathetic and loving to us as children. Praise be for this God who gives grace and mercy in times of good and in times of need.

Gracious God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for always being with us, even when we are too slow or stupid or preoccupied to notice. Help us to slow down to appreciate your Living Word.   Amen.