I. The Word: Hebrews 4:12 (NRSV)

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.

II. Reflection Questions

1. Does the above verse sound comfortable to you?
2. Do you view the bible as a living and active part of your life?

I love this personification of the Word. I immediately imagined those old martial arts films of masters slicing their opponents with uncanny strength and precision. I love it because we rarely view the Bible this way. That’s not entirely our fault; it’s easy to view God’s word as stagnant when other passages describe it as sturdy and eternal. Though His Word stands firm, it should hold a dynamic and challenging place in our lives.

Remember Mr. Miyagi, the elderly martial arts master from “Karate Kid”? The bible is just like him. He sparred with Daniel (the main character of “Karate Kid”) to refine Daniel’s technique, build his strengths, and showcase his weaknesses. Over time, Mr. Miyagi trained Daniel to fight fiercely while revealing Karate’s inherent compassion, which the opposing dojo, Cobra Kai, had lost. Daniel almost never felt comfortable, and at the beginning of training Daniel didn’t understand Mr. Miyagi’s methods (e.g. wax on- wax off). However, when he was finally tested, Daniel’s surrender to Mr. Miyagi’s fundamentals resulted in his victorious defeat of Cobra Kai. Though Daniel stumbled many times, he ultimately remained unshaken thanks to Mr. Miyagi’s wisdom and discipline.

Mr. Miyagi= The Word; Daniel= You; Cobra Kai= This Fallen World. Got it? Now go watch “Karate Kid”, you won’t regret it.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for permeating culture and giving us your truth in places we’d never expect. Help us accept your discipline and refining fire with joy. Remind us that the battle is not ours, it’s yours.  Amen.