Danger of A Hardening Heart

Hebrews 3:7-19


7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness,

9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years.

10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’

11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

God speaks to all of us, but how we respond depends on the condition of our heart. Upon hearing the Lord’s voice, some believers are motivated to pursue a deeper and more obedient relationship with their Father. Others, however, resist or refuse Him because their heart has become less responsive.

A change in receptiveness may be difficult to recognize because it happens slowly and is often rationalized or excused. How do you respond when the Holy Spirit speaks to you through Scripture or some other means? Carefully consider the following characteristics of a developing callousness:

  • Insensitivity to what God says

  • Resistance to His authority

  • Disobedience to what the Lord is instructing you to do

  • Justification of sinful conduct

  • Rejection of reproof by others

  • Preoccupation with worldly things

  • Little interest in spiritual matters

  • Absence of private devotion (Bible reading and prayer)

  • Avoidance of gathering to worship with other believers

 

If you’ve discovered any of the above traits in your life, it’s not too late. Ask the Lord to mold your heart. Remember, He specializes in making all things new (2 Corinthians 5:17) and delights in our turning to Him.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Blueprint For Prayer Part 2

Image
  Matthew 6:11-15     11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. The first half of the Lord’s prayer focuses on God, but in the second part, Jesus addresses our need for daily provision, forgiveness, and protection. Notice His words remain centered on the Father, who provides all three.  Give us this day our daily bread.  The Lord is the source of everything we need—physical, material, emotional, and spiritual (Philippians 4:19).  By asking Him to provide our basic necessities, we’re acknowledging our complete dependence upon Him and trusting in His sufficient provision for each...
Read more

Proverbial Wisdom: Secure in Wisdom

  Read Proverbs 4 Have you ever had anyone refer to you as a child?  How did that make you feel?  A lot of times when someone refers to us as a child, we take it as an insult upon our character.  However, in the book of Proverbs, being referred to as a child is a huge compliment.  We see through the pages of Proverbs that God considers us His very children, His very heirs, and He wishes to instruct us as a Father instructs His children.  God gives us reassurance that He loves us and only wants us to follow His instructions because they will guide us and lead us to a good life.  We have security inside God’s very words.  His instructions will give us the wisdom to lead lives that not only honor Him, but will ultimately bring us great happiness and joy.  God’s instructions are not overbearing rules to make our lives miserable, instead it’s the exact opposite.  They are rules to protect us and instructions to guide us into the abundant life...
Read more

Firmly Convicted

Image
  2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.   A person of conviction feels certain that his beliefs are true. However, it’s often the case that the things people believe are based on the current conditions or situations of their life. Then, when circumstances change, their convictions do as well. In other words, it’s not uncommon to find someone go back and forth on issues t...
Read more