Many people in today’s
society harden their heart so they will no longer be affected by the sadness of
the seamier side of life. They also hardened their heart toward God, the Bible,
church, Jesus and anything else relating to Christianity. They pollute the Word
of God to include justification for their liberal lifestyle and thinking. They
no longer hear God’s call on their life and the god of this world blinded their
eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4). Many of them
became so godless in their behavior and thinking, that God gave them over to
the sinful desires of their heart (Romans 1:24).
Satan makes sure to provide
us with temptations, which lead us away from the straight and narrow path God
chose for us (Matthew 7:13-14).
God’s path does not add legalistic works to the Word, but only includes
believing the pure, unadulterated Truth of God’s Word. This is not a modern
phenomenon. Prophets, judges and apostles throughout the centuries were called
by God to call His people back to walking in His ways. However, mankind is
determined to go from one sin to another, and they refuse to acknowledge God in
their life (Jeremiah 9:3).
God used judgment in the Old
Testament to call people to come back to His path (Jeremiah
15:6). In the New Testament He uses grace
and mercy to influence people to walk in His Truth (James
3:17; Titus 3:5; 2 John 1:3). In both
instances, there are many who know the Truth; yet, choose to walk away from
Him. In fact, Jesus, God made flesh (John 1:1,14; 14:6; Philippians
2:7; 1 John 4:2), lived on the earth for
33 years; and they not only did not recognize who He was, but they crucified
Him to assuage their corrupt consciences. We crucify Him again with every sin
we commit.
God wants us to follow hard
after Him (Psalm 63:8), to love
Him with our whole heart, soul, strength and mind (Luke
10:27), and to live a life committed to
Him according to our calling and election (2 Peter 1:10). He yearns for us not to harden our heart, but to
respond to His voice (Hebrews 3:15).
Salvation is a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:14-15).
Christ paid the penalty of the consequences of our sins on Calvary’s cross and
He made the way open for all of us to come to Him by faith in His faithfulness (John
14:6-7).
He is waiting for you; and
He is only a prayer away (John 3:16).
Recognize your sin (Romans 3:23, 25), turn away from your sinful lifestyle and receive His free gift of
salvation (Romans 6:23). Once
we come to Christ, He frees us from our sin (Acts 10:43). His peace and joy, which surpass anything the world
has to offer, flood our soul (Romans 5:5).
He fills us with His love and His Holy Spirit, and He never leaves us or
forsakes us (Romans 15:13; Hebrews 13:5). From the first moment of our conversion, God transforms our heart by
grace through our faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8).
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for giving us Your Son, for giving us the desire and the power to call upon You and for walking with us every step of the way for the rest of our life (Philippians 2:12-13). We look forward to the glories of Heaven (Revelation 21). Heal the hardened hearts of our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors as we continually invite them to join us in this marvelous journey with You.
Thought for the Day:
Some
harden their hearts and depart from the faith by devoting themselves to:
deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the
insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared. – 1 Timothy 4:1-2
