"God's Word is Alive and Working..."

Today I'm going to blog about a bible verse. A friend posted it on her blog, which you should totally check out http://whenlifegivesyousermons.blogspot.com/ So thanks to her for providing some of the inspiration for this post.

God's Word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. - Hebrews 4:12 (NCV)

Today is the ten year anniversary of September 11. At church, my Pastor spoke about the way people asked why God would allow such a disaster to happen. He said many people asked him "Where was God on September 11?" Everyone who is old enough to remember that day at all remembers where they were when they heard the news. So then where was God? My Pastor said that God was with those who comforted the grieving. He was in the hearts and spirits of the EMTs, Firefighters, Police, and volunteers who responded so quickly. He was encouraging the churches who fed the workers and volunteers.

Americans bonded together that day. While it was a tragedy that no one would ever wish for, it brought us closer together as a community. And we could glorify God through our willingness to help others. That is where God was.

I cannot tell you why so many people lost their lives. I can only tell you that God has a plan for everything. His word is alive. Even though the Bible was written long before this disaster happened, the words in the Bible can still comfort those who are grieving because the Word is alive.

In Acts chapter 2, verse 23, Peter speaks to the people about Christ. He tells them "Jesus was given to you, and with the help of those who don't know the law, you put him to death by nailing him to a cross. But this was God's plan which he had made long ago; he knew all this would happen." He knew all this would happen. Since the Word of God is alive, Peter was not just speaking to those in front of him that day. He was speaking to every person who has ever read the word of God. To every person who will ever hear those words in the future. They apply to you and to those around you.

God knows what is going to happen. Everything is a part of his plan. And while not every part of the plan is going to be something you like, every part is going to make you a stronger Christian. The deaths of all of those people on September 11 are incredibly sad but my hope is that like Peter changed the lives of 3,000 with his Words (Acts 2:40-41) God changed the hearts of those who died that day. I hope that they cried out to God with their last breath. Because even if you do not spend your life in service to God, he will still take you into his family at the very end. That is the great amount of his mercy. No matter how many times you sin, God will always take you back into his arms with words of forgiveness. And that is why we honor him because no other person in your life will forgive you every time and then forget what you've done. "...you'll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean." - Micah 7:19

So on this day of sadness, I encourage you to turn to God for comfort. He may not tell you all you want to know right now. But in the end, God will give you what is best for you. And in the last moments of life for the people in the twin towers, I pray that God called them home and that they are in Heaven.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"