The latter part of the first chapter of James has to do with the word of God. Three observations tell me so.

The first observation reminds me that, in God’s sovereign determination, I was born again by the word of God.

By His own choice, He gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

(James 1:18 CSB)

I was awakened to being a new creation through the enlivening work of the Spirit as I engaged with the written word of God. I was raised from the deadness of sin through the resurrecting power of the Spirit as I received and purposed to follow the living Word of God.

The third observation is that my encounter with the word of God was never intended to be a one-and-done thing.

But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works ​— ​this person will be blessed in what he does.

(James 1:24-25 CSB)

The blessing of being a new creation in Christ through the word is intricately linked to walking as a new creation in Christ by the word. And not just some casual, periodic, superficial encounter with the word, but by looking intently into it — bowing ourselves over the word, searching it carefully and curiously.

Born by the word to obey the word. Got it. So far, so good.

But it’s the middle observation that’s giving me something to chew on this morning — and a bit of heartburn (pun intended).

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

(James 1:21 CSB)

Humbly receive the implanted word. Sounds easy enough. Actually sounds kind of warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it? The implanted word, the word grafted into my very being — the agricultural sound of it kind of grabs me as idyllic. You know, like a tree planted by steams of water, bearing fruit in its season, whose leaf does not wither, prospering in whatever is undertaken (Ps. 1:2-3). Kind of peaceful.

But for some reason (a Spirit reason?), those aren’t the dots that connect for me this morning. After all, such a pastoral picture isn’t something which would have to be “humbly received”, it would be easily embraced. Instead, another description of the word comes to mind. And it’s this dynamic, which if implanted, truly would need to be received humbly in order to be received at all.

For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

(Hebrews 4:12 CSB)

A sword. A double-edged sword. A sword slicing and dicing as it judges the thoughts and intents of the heart, even as it separates soul and spirit, joints and marrow. That’s the implanted word I am to humbly receive. I cringe when I watch sword swallowing acts. But this morning I’m told to be one.

A sword engrafted within my soul and spirit. A sword which, when things get stirred up inside, may very well cut deep. Pruning from the inside out.

But that’s exactly how the implanted word can save my soul. I was saved when given birth by the word of truth, but I am being saved as the implanted word does it’s purifying work deep within.

Kind of painful at times. Might be tempting to look not so intently after a while. I think I understand the propensity for someone to look into the mirror of the word, not really like what he sees, and so “goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was” (James 1:22-24).

But for those who do look intently; for those who believe the sword implanted is the law of freedom which empowers; for those who persevere — even when being sliced and diced from the inside out; they are blessed even as their souls are being saved.

Sword swallowing. Can cut deep. Can be painful. Needs to be practiced in order to be perfected. A hard act to follow. But follow we must.

Only by His grace. Because we want to live for His glory.