RPG Adults
NOT A HARDENED HEART (II)
SATURDAY, JUNE 26
Proverbs 28:14
Mark 6:45-52
“…but he that hardeneth his heart
shall fall into mischief.”
NOT A HARDENED HEART (II)
Then also, the concept of a “hardened heart” is sometimes applied in Scripture with reference more specifically to God’s Word, rather than His wrath. For example, the prophet Zechariah was sent to rebuke God’s people thus: “They refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts” (Zech 7:11-12).
Nor is such hardness only found in unbelievers. Even genuine believers may become inured to God’s Word in this way. When the disciples of Jesus were toiling in the boat, and the Lord came to them walking on the sea, they were troubled; and when He came into the boat with them, and the wind immediately ceased, they were “sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered” ‒ and this, for the reason that “they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened” (Mark 6:51-52).
Not long after, when He warned them about “the leaven of the Pharisees, and… of Herod,” they “reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.” Here the Lord had cause to rebuke them: “Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?” (Mark 8:15-18). Even after His death and resurrection, “he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen” (Mark 16:14).
Dear reader, let us beware of such a hardness of heart, when we read or hear God’s Word. Let us respond with child-like faith, trusting God’s Word and believing it whole-heartedly. Let us, indeed, “receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21)!
THOUGHT: “Be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27).
PRAYER: O God, help me to respond with faith to Thy Word.