The Book Of Judgment

• How do you know when you’ve done something wrong?

• What does it mean that God’s Word is “alive and active”?

For the word of God is alive 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

If we tried hard enough, we could probably fool others into thinking we’re good people—even if we really aren’t. We could never fool God, though. He knows exactly how we think, feel and act. He knows how close or how far away we are from the standards he’s given us in his Word.

For example, he tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. He tells us our thoughts are just as important as our actions. He tells us to imitate Christ in all that we do. He tells us to honor him in every decision we make. Those are the standards he has set for us. If we obey the commands in his Word, we make him happy. If not, we make him unhappy.

If we want to face God’s judgment with confidence, we need to know his Word. What does he say about dealing with difficult people? How about keeping a good reputation? The answers to these and hundreds of other important questions can be found in the pages of the Bible. If we learn our way around Scripture, we will discover how to please the only One whose approval ultimately matters.

PRAYER
Dear God, we cannot fool you. The Bible gives us your words to live by, and you know whether we obey. Forgive us for the times when we don’t follow your Word. Help us become obedient. Amen.