The Living Word

The Bible 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." Hebrews 4:12. There are a few promises in scriptures that I hold onto, like Romans 8:28 promising that God will use all things together for good for those who love Him, and Hebrews 11:6, which reminds that we must first believe that God is who He says He is and that He rewards those who seek him. Another one that I've been leaning on is of a different nature, reminding us that God is in control. Exodus 7:3 tells us that God hardened Pharaoh's heart for the reason of multiplying His signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. (History lesson: Israel was still being held in slavery by Pharaoh. He wouldn't let them go, no matter what plague God threw at him.) If Pharaoh had freed the people when Moses first asked, the Israelites would have no examples of God's awesome power at work in their lives. They saw firsthand the wrath and mercy He was capable of.
Fast forward to 2008. People in my life sometimes appear to be hard-hearted. Being a Bible believing person, I pray and wait to see some signs and wonders multiplied as God works out His plan. I have trouble not butting in, though. As I've said before, waiting patiently is not really my strength. The Holy Spirit is going to have real trouble getting a word in edge-wise while I'm lecturing on what love is according to 1st Corinthians. It was only later when I was replaying the conversation (confrontation) over in my mind did I really hear the Savior's voice reminding me that "Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing,but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." So, once again, the living active sword of truth has seen my heart. Ouch.