THE SPIRIT AND THE SOUL

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12).

Devotion 5 of 15

COME HIGHER!

We are not confined to academics in matters pertaining to life and godliness--praise the Lord! The Word of God is living and active. The Holy Spirit challenges us to rise higher in our consideration of humanity. Our unseen part is not simplistic, and we should not consider it to be so.

The Scriptures are the Divinely appointed means of comprehending the total man. Paul prays that our sanctification will be complete, involving the "spirit, soul, and body" (1 Thess 5:23). The power of God's Word bears upon this matter. It can distinguish between the higher and lower natures within us. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12). If the "spirit" and the "soul" are synonymous--just two different words depicting the same thing--no such distinction could be made.

The word "divide" does not mean to separate, but to distinguish. The soulish part of our natures is not abandoned as we become "spiritual." Rather, it is brought into subordination to the Lord by faith and through the Holy Spirit. Although a number of self-acclaimed theologians say there is no distinction between the "soul" and the "spirit," the Word of God declares there is a difference. Not only so, the Word unveils the difference on a personal level.

Two different words are employed to describe these parts of the human nature. They are different words in the Hebrew (ruwach and nephesh), the Greek (pneuma and psuche), and the English (spirit and soul). Because these are unseen, it is difficult to make a distinction between them. Psychology cannot provide a clear distinction, either theoretical or practical. Neither, indeed, can philosophy make a clear distinction.

Scripture employs both words in the same context. A few examples will suffice. "But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in SPIRIT; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink (BODY), but I have poured out my SOUL before the LORD" (1 Sam 1:15). "Therefore, I will not restrain my mouth (BODY); I will speak (BODY) in the anguish of my SPIRIT, I will complain in the bitterness of my SOUL" (Job 7:11). "At night my SOUL longs for Thee, Indeed, my SPIRIT within me seeks Thee diligently; For when the earth experiences Thy judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness" (Isa 26:9). "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your SPIRIT and SOUL and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess 5:23).

These are not redundant expressions. The unseen portion of our person consists of two parts. One is superior, the other inferior. One is consistent, the other inconsistent. One manages, the other must be managed. The soul is the inferior, and the spirit is the superior. The following provides a general view of these two parts. This is not intended to be thorough, but is only introductory, and represents my own perception.

SOUL --Excitement, Lust, Emotion, Anger, Anxious, Exhilaration, Melancholy, Imagination.
SPIRIT--Understand, Comprehend, Discern, Knowledge, Faith, Hope, Peace, Joy

PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ, give me grace to live deeper, think more profoundly, and live beneath surface and appearance.

-- TOMORROW: WHOM THE LORD COMMENDS --