God's Living Word - Hebrews 4:12

Saturday March 12

God’s Living Word - Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

“For the word of God is living and active.” 

On the way to meet with the church one Sunday morning, I got a call from one of the Native brothers. He had just found out an infection in his toe was not healing (he’s diabetic) and was going to meet with his doctor soon to talk about possibly amputating half of his foot. He asked for me to pray for him that morning.

When I arrived for worship, I found that the reading for that Sunday was from Mark where Jesus said, “If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.” (Mark 9:45) I was stunned! I texted my friend and told him to check out this verse. I wasn’t sure how it would hit him, but I figured I’d let the Word of God do its work.

When I caught up to this brother a couple of days later, he was super excited.

“Can you believe how God’s Word spoke right to my situation!” he said. “And it was such good news too—even if I do loose part of my foot, I’m headed for life in heaven and there I’ll be whole and well again.”

Of course, the verse was also a call to repentance and that was not lost on my friend.

He said, “The verse was also a reminder that we have to take care of ourselves. I feel like I want to use this experience to remind my people who are diabetics that we have to take care of ourselves or this kind of thing can happen.”

Lord,
Thank you that in every situation, Your Word speaks to us with power and clarity—calling us to repentance and promising us your grace and forgiveness in Christ!
Amen.

Rev. Mark Peske - Bemidji, Minnesota