Hebrews 4:12-13

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. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

Often we will use the phrase “Word of God” to talk about the written material that defines our faith in scripture. But here, in this part of our scriptures, it is used to describe a living being. It describes the active and observing intent of God as we are made open to scrutiny.

When we say something like, “The bible says…” We are not thinking that words on a page can magically leap into our minds. Rather we mean that as we hear, read and attend to scripture, the God spoken of within those pages engages with us and hears, reads and attends to us in return. This is the “living and active” part.

And it often feels that as we open up before God, in turn God is opened up before us. It happens the other way around though! God has laid open God’s self to the world in Jesus and calls us to respond. This is why we call Jesus the “Word of God” God speaking to us.

As it says earlier in the book of Hebrews (1:1)… Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.”