This post is Day 23 in a series of studies about “Renewing the Mind”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

Renewing the Mind – Day 23

As we learn to think more as Jesus thought and develop the relationship with Father God to be like His, so our lives will change. Not only our personal lives, but those around us too because they will recognize and be affected by the difference in us.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.

The Thought

The Greek used here for “word of God” is logos and generally understood as the spoken word. It is powerful when spoken. Try reading your Bible aloud and you will find that hearing it as well as seeing the words impresses you more.

As we are working on renewing our minds this month, we need to remember that the Bible is not just a book to read stories, it is true, it is alive and can change our personal lives completely as we take to heart Jesus’ teachings, and apply Biblical principles to our situations.

When I read the verse above, I ask myself why would Jesus want to separate soul and spirit. The answer is that the soul is the “earthly” part of us and that’s where the devil often gets access. Our spirits are what Jesus wants to see renewed so that we think and act and speak as He does.

As we learn to think more as Jesus thought and develop the relationship with Father God to be like His, so our lives will change. Not only our personal lives, but those around us too because they will recognize and be affected by the difference in us.

The book of Hebrews reveals much of the presence of Jesus in the Old Testament and one of the key words is “Better”.

Believers in Jesus have a BETTER hope (6:9).

There is a BETTER covenant (7:22) and BETTER promises (8:6).

Christianity brings BETTER possessions (10:34).

Heaven is a BETTER country (11:16).

Jesus was a BETTER sacrifice and He was BETTER than the angels (1:1-4).

Action

Ask yourself today what it means in your life for the Word of God to be “living and active”. Do you allow it to “separate soul and spirit”?