Just the other day, I was outside with my son in the sub-frigid weather putting up lights in our yard. When it came time to make some connections, it was clear that we needed a few adapters, which meant I was off to the hardware store to grab what we needed. By this time my hands had long passed the numb “can you feel me now?” stage. when I found what I needed, I went up to the check out stand. While waiting, I noticed several large pump bottles of hand sanitizer on the counter for customers. I thought it would be a good idea to grab myself a squirt. As I rubbed it on my hands, I felt a sudden sting on the inside of my finger and that’s when I discovered….I had a cut!
Sometime, while handling light strings, I had cut my finger out in the cold but didn’t even notice it. Under normal circumstances, I would have become instantly aware of my problem, but my cold and numbing environment preventing me from becoming aware of, concerned about and taking corrective action on — my injury.
As soon as all of this happened, it dawned on me as I drove away from the store…a culture of sin and compromise can be like that numbing cold! God knows that we need to be awakened to the problems of pain and sin. Paul articulates the awakening in this way: “Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law” (Romans 7:7b NIV). God’s word is a great way to measure our spiritual health and make sure we are aware of any areas of sin, compromise and subtle shifts in alignment with God’s vision and purpose for our lives. Yes, it can “sting” from time to time, but God’s speaks to us through His word for our benefit. The Bible says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV).
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you!