Hebrews 4:12 – Verse of the Day 10/7/14

Just as a two-edged sword can cut both ways, the truth also moves in two directions. Most obviously, knowing the truth helps you to recognize the truth. That much is pretty obvious. Perhaps less obvious, though, is that knowing the truth helps you to recognize falsehood. The best way to recognize counterfeit money is by becoming more familiar with real money. The best way to recognize untruth is to become more familiar with the truth.

This verse is part of the climactic conclusion to the story of God’s acts in history in the book of Hebrews. The author begins with creation, describes the faithlessness of the people of Israel in the desert, God’s faithfulness to his covenant with David, and concludes by looking forward to the future eternal rest in heaven. With that big picture in the background, the point of this verse is that the Word of God distinguishes between truth and falsehood, between sin and righteousness in each of these situations and times.

God’s word is our source of wisdom. It is a guide to the truth, and it convicts us of our sin. Spend some time in prayer thanking God that nothing is hidden from God’s sight and that he has revealed this vision to us in the Bible. Ask God for the faith to trust His word, the heart to believe its teaching, and for the desire to follow its commands.