Hebrews 4:12 English Standard Version (ESV) For 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.

Yesterday we spoke about the heart being prepared. Today let us address how the Word is involved in that work.

The first thing we should address is the issue of the living Word and its activity.

As disciples we study the Word privately and together and in discipleship classes, and in teachings. The process begins with reading, defining, memorizing, discussing and correcting any errors we might encounter during those studies.

Our initial study renews our minds, changing the way we think. We do this with every human effort to come to a proper understanding. Being rational people we reason things out to clear our conscience from the sinful things we did in our former life. Forgiveness that is felt is an emotional experience not a spiritual one.

The Word is active in that it will show us the differences between the soul and the spirit. That is not something that can be seen with eyes of flesh. The Word is active in us to open our spiritual ears and eyes. That is not emotional, it is spiritual. It is the Word of God that reveals truth apart from the way we once reasoned things out with our minds.

We discussed how Christ is preparing our hearts and protecting our hearts but the initial spreading of the Word is in the mind. Those are separate from the intentions of the heart. We have a rational understanding of the bible based on human traits but how to take them to heart is by revelation by the spirit at a time that is safe for the heart to accept those truths.

Revealed truth is not emotional, it is spiritual.

Luke 1:17 English Standard Version (ESV) and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

1 Corinthians 2:9 English Standard Version (ESV) But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”

According to Ezekiel 36:26 we have been given a new heart and a new spirit. That new heart knows nothing about how to love as God loves. The new spirit is given to teach that heart how to love.

The issue of preparing the heart has to be seen in the light of this truth, it is being prepared for the Lord. We have not yet come to the wedding feast. Our hearts are being prepared for that day.

Revelation 21:2 calls us “prepared as adorned for Christ”.

We are human, we have not been translated yet and as such we are still undergoing preparations.

What we might fail to understand is that this new heart is His heart, after all He is Lord. As such He will love us in a way that will not damage our hearts. He will do nothing to scare us off and seeks only to draw us closer to Him.

Ephesians 3:19-21 English Standard Version

¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

“At work within us.” Preparing us.