Hebrews 4:12-13 - 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. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

I don't know about you, but sharp objects give me the creeps. It's all the same—swords, knives, scalpels. I can imagine, all too vividly, how they can pierce and divide—flesh, joints, tendons. I've been on the receiving end of that far too often. And so this is not my favorite image of the Word of God!
I also don't like the idea of exposure and nakedness. It makes me feel helpless and scared. I'd rather keep my clothes on, thank you very much!

And yet, there's one time when nakedness and exposure are par for the course—where a sharp sword—or rather, a scalpel—is absolutely necessary. That's in life-saving surgery. Doctors can't work on what they can't see. Thus the nakedness. And when it comes to scalpels, the sharper, the better. They create wounds, yes, but they also cut out cancers and infections that might otherwise kill a person. And the wound from a very sharp scalpel will heal faster than a wound from a dull knife.

There are times in our Christian lives when God has to do surgery on our hearts—has to cut out some evil habit, or desire, or way of thinking that would otherwise lead to our deaths. And so we find ourselves naked before Him, spiritually speaking—confessing our sins, trying to hold nothing back, knowing that He wants nothing but the best for us. And we submit to His scalpel, trusting that the God who hurts us is doing it to heal us—and that we will be glad of it in the end.

Occasions like these are not fun. And yet, I try to remember that the worst of it was borne by God Himself—by Jesus, when He hung on that cross, bearing the weight of the world's evil. Looking at His love makes it easier for me to bear the lesser wounds of Christian discipleship. And remembering His resurrection makes it possible for me to rejoice, even in my pain, knowing that God will bring all of us, His people, to everlasting joy and happiness with Him in His kingdom.

THE PRAYER: Dear Father, help me when I go through painful times, and let Your Word heal me. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever had surgery?

2. If so, how did you feel at the time? How do you feel about it now?

3. When has God done surgery on some particular area of your life using His Word?

Today's Bible Readings: Micah 6-7    Acts 22

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