Over the years, 9 as a Presbyterian minister and 14 as the pastor of the United Christian Church here where we live in Aberdeen, Washington, I’ve visited lots of parishioners in various hospitals. At Englewood Hospital in New Jersey, where my two sons were born. Even peddling and riding my French moped, a Motobacane, across the George Washington Bridge to New York City’s Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital; and then, of course, many hospitals and nursing homes and rehab centers in our Western Washington area for the past umpteenth years. Many times patients needed to have a procedure involving a special dye that would bring to light in the network of veins and arteries in the human body problems that could only be detected in this way. A special dye that brings something to light. Something that needs attention. Something that we’re missing on our own, something that needs correction. Spiritually, that special dye that brings to light is God’s Word, the Bible. In the New Testament book of Hebrews, the author writes that ‘…the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.’ Like a dye that brings to light, the Bible will open up our lives and attitudes to God’s scrutiny like nothing else can or will. Let me suggest that if you don’t want to change in any way, if you are just so satisfied with yourself as you are, if you like everything about yourself and want to hang on to what you know is contrary to God and His ways, then don’t read the Bible! Now let me say that when I read God’s Word, of course, there is such comfort and hope and encouragement from cover to cover, but that’s not the complete story. No, like a surgeon who needs to remove something that is playing havoc with our health, so God’s Word will cut and penetrate and get right to the heart and marrow and joint of where I and we need some change. As they say, ‘no pain, no gain’. So, don’t shy away from the Divine Surgeon and His Word–it’s all for our own good as we desire to be more like His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus died so that the dye of the Word would save us and cleanse us making us more useful for His Kingdom. ‘I’m ready, Doctor Jesus…do your work, show me what I can’t see on my own, make me more like yourself!’