To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 5, Day 5 - Warrior Poets Stand Firm in Hope
To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 2, Day 3 - God's Word Cuts Deep into Our Souls
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For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
The Roman double-edged sword was a terribly efficient weapon, capable of cutting through bone. It is a fitting image for the word of God, which can penetrate into our very souls, separating our flesh from our spirit, revealing what is at the core of who we are. Scripture is a surgical instrument in the hands of the Divine Physician who wants to cut out of our lives everything that destroys us from within. Only once the cancer of sin and selfishness is removed can the Spirit of God shape us into the men we are meant to be.
How many of us are man enough to allow the Scriptures to pierce our souls and dig into the very depths of who we are? Can we allow the word of God to breach the boundaries of our inner thoughts, exposing our failings, our struggles, and the deepest longings of our searching souls? Let us commit today to yield to the penetrating power and surgical precision of God’s perfect word so that it can transform us from the insight out.
Questions for Reflection
What are some things you want the word of God to cut out of your life? What might be holding you back from letting God do this work in you?
Are there any special verses that have been a true source of “surgical” healing for you? What are they?
Do you have a brother in Christ who needs to allow God’s word to do some surgery in his life? How can you encourage and pray for him?
Praying with Scripture
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6:17)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE
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About the Author
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
