"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb. 4:12)

During the days that Knute Rockne was coaching Notre Dame, a sports columnist in a South Bend newspaper earned the reputation of being the meanest, most cutting writer in the country. The anonymous writer, who knew Notre Dame well, wrote about the team's weaknesses. He pointed out the mistakes of individual players. He told about those who were lazy, about those who broke training and didn't discipline themselves. Of course, this column made the players roaring mad, and they complained to Rockne. He listened with sympathy but said he could not stop the writer. He advised that the only way the players could do so was to go out and play the game so well that they would prove him wrong.

Later, it became known that the writer of the column was Knute Rockne himself. As coach of the team, he was best acquainted with their weaknesses. The critical column was his ingenuous device to develop a better team, and it did. (From Bible Illustrator).

God in His holy word often speaks so sharply that it cuts to the heart. God tells what we need because He loves us and wants us to gain eternal life. He knows that we cannot go to heaven unless we discipline ourselves to obey His rules.