I often enjoy listening to various podcasts in the mornings while I get ready for the day. One of my very favorites is done by Heidi St. John, The Busy Mom. As I was listening to her latest series, “Becoming MomStrong,” she said something that jumped right through my iPhone speakers and grabbed me. It’s a phrase I have heard hundreds, if not thousands, of times throughout my life. But this time, I couldn’t shake the words from my thoughts.
Those words were:
Living and Active
Heidi shared about becoming Mom Strong and instilling God’s living and active Word into our own hearts and into the hearts of our children. His Word is powerful.
The context of those words are found in Hebrews 4:12 (italics, mine),
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
I kept turning those words over and over in my mind. Even in the hustle and bustle of the day, my thoughts would return to this verse and those two words.
This morning, I couldn’t just think about them any longer. I needed to study them. I needed to chew on them. I needed to meditate on them. I needed to process them through writing.
For those that may not know, I am a word person. I love knowing the meanings behind words to get a more full picture of what is meant when they’re used. I desire to keep things in context, especially in God’s Word. I want to delve deeper to understand the original intent and purpose of the words and phrases used. The Bible is so much richer when we are able to do this.
To satiate my hunger and thirst for more, I pulled out my Bible, my journal (to process my thoughts) and two of my all-time favorite books:
- Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary (American Dictionary of the English Language)
- Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
If you love words and studying God’s Word, get these books!! They are incredible and invaluable.
I started my studies by simply looking up the definitions and origins of these words.
I know both of them are adjectives as they describe God’s Word. What kind of Word is it? It is living and it is active.
“Living”
Dwelling; residing; existing; subsisting; having life or the vital functions in operation; not dead. – Webster’s definition #1
Issuing continually from the earth; running; flowing; as a living spring or fountain; opposed to stagnant. – Webster’s definition #2
Producing action, animation and vigor; quickening; as a living principle; a living faith. – Webster’s definition #3
A primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively): life, lifetime, live, alive, lively, quick. – Strong’s Concordance: #G2198
“Active”
That has the power or quality of acting; that contains the principle of action, independent of any visible external force; as attraction is an active power or it may be defined, that communicates action or motion. Opposed to passive, that receives action; as, the active powers of the mind. – Webster’s definition #1
Having the power of quick motion or disposition to move with speed; nimble; lively; brisk; agile as an active animal, hence … – Webster’s definition #2
Busy; constantly engaged in action; pursuing business with vigor and assiduity; opposed to dull, slow or indolent; as an active officer. It is also opposed to sedentary, as an active life. – Webster’s definition #3
I couldn’t find a Strong’s number for “active” so I looked up “powerful” (which is how the word is translated by the King James Version)
Active, operative: effectual, powerful. – Strong’s Concordance: #G1756
In general, able to produce great effects; exerting great force or energy; as powerful eloquence. The word of God is quick and powerful, Hebrews 4:12. – Webster’s Definition #5
Y’all. Do you see how amazing God’s Word is?
It has life
It is like a living spring or fountain
It produces action
It produces animation
It produces vigor (strength)
It is quickening (springs to life, becomes animated)
It lives
It moves to action
It communicates action or motion
It has the power of quick motion
It has the disposition to move with speed
It is busy
It is constantly engaged in action
It is effectual (successful to produce an intended result)
It is powerful
It is able to produce great effects (cause change or something to happen)
Sometimes, you can also look at a word and help define it by what it is NOT. Scrolling through the definitions above, I found the word “opposed” to help show how it contrasts with what it actually is. God’s Word …
Is not dead
Is opposed to stagnant
Is opposed to passive
Is opposed to slow
Is opposed to dull
Is opposed to indolent (laziness)
Is opposed to sedentary
Are catching this? As I was reading through these various definitions, I was simply blown away. God’s Word is AMAZING! It is incredibly powerful, it is effective, it is active, it is living!!
God’s Word is not dead … it is ALIVE!
Hebrews 4:12 goes on to say it so sharp that it pierces and/or penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. That’s pretty sharp. It’s easy for us to often see things as gray, blurred, blended or muddied … but God’s Word does not. It’s pretty clear, it’s pretty quick, and it’s pretty powerful. It divides and separates even those things we have a hard time seeing a distinction or difference. It judges (exposes and discerns) our inner most thoughts, intentions and desires.
It is not dull, but sharp!
It is not stagnant, but living!
It is not withdrawn, but penetrates and pierces!
It is not ignorant or unaware, but discerning!
It is not weak, but powerful!
Friends, as you navigate your day today, I encourage you to actively and diligently wield the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It is a powerful weapon. Read it. Memorize it. Know it. Use it. It can do what we cannot do in and of ourselves.
If/When you’re trudging through murky or clouded waters, dive into the clear waters of His Word. There, you will find what you need (even if it’s not something you want).
I actually started out wanting to list everything you can find in God’s Word (hope, peace, answers, forgiveness, truth, direction, grace, teachings, JESUS, etc.), but felt like the list could go on forever … so I simply summarized it by saying you can find what you need. 🙂
God knows. I have the uttermost confidence and faith that He will speak to you through His Word and help you navigate through life as you gain wisdom and understanding from Him …
To God be the Glory!