“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 ESV

DEVOTION:

THEME: Rooted in Christ – The Word is a Sword

At Faith Lutheran we are ROOTED in CHRIST. Each morning at Chapel, the students at Faith Lutheran School recite memory verses and portion of the Catechism. We do this because we know that God’s Word forms us. To be deeply rooted in Christ, we need His Word planted deeply in our hearts. As we learn from Luther’s Explanation of the 3^rd Commandment, “We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.”

Holding God’s Word sacred means that we give it a special place of honor in our hearts and minds and in our daily lives. It also means that we allow God’s Word to do what it intends to do. Of course, we won’t always like what God says or what His Word is doing in us and to us. Whenever we hear the Law, we are convicted of sin. We are shown that our way of life is imperfect and that there are things we are doing which we shouldn’t be doing; and things we aren’t doing that we should be doing.

The author of Hebrews describes this activity of God’s Word as a sharp “sword.” It is a sword that cuts precisely where it needs to, putting to death sin and rebellion, pruning the child of God, in order that he or she would grow and bear fruit. But make no mistake about this: the sword is painful. Not painful in the sense that it harms us, but painful because sin makes us sick, and we need the disease to be removed from us. We resist this, but it is good for us.

As you seek to be ROOTED in CHRIST, pray that God would prepare you to receive His Word as a sword. Pray that He would grant you peace and help as His Word “pierces to the division of soul and spirit” and discerns every thought and intention of your heart.

-Pastor Shaun

CATECHISM MEMORY:
The Second Commandment: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks. | Song

READINGS for THIS WEEK:

Mon: Deuteronomy 6 Tue: Psalm 119:1-16 Wed: Ephesians 6 Thu: Psalm 119:17-32 Fri: 2 Timothy 3 Sat: Revelation 1
Sunday, August 16: (Isaiah 51:1-6 | Romans 12 | Matthew 16:13-20)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS & ACTIVITIES for the READINGS

1. What does each reading teach you about God’s Word and its intended effects on our lives?
2. What does each reading teach you about how you should receive and respond to God’s Word?
3. What does God’s Word need to “put to death” in your life?
4. How does God’s Word heal you and make you more deeply ROOTED in Christ?
5. Sketch or paint a sword or another image that reflects the imagery of
   Hebrews 4, Ephesians 6, and Revelation 1. (Share your image with Pastor Shaun)
6. What questions do you have about the readings this week?
   (Write them down and share them with Pastor Shaun!)