DECEMBER 8, Hebrews 3:7-9

To harden your heart is to make sure nothing of God’s Word can get in. No matter how well God’s Word is taught, how a person may witness God’s power, he still chooses not to believe. Although Israel was taught the Scriptures and witnessed many miracles, they still hardened their hearts against Him. They did not believe in God. Is this also a description of your spiritual state? How do you know if you have hardened your heart against God?

You know that you have hardened your heart if you have heard His voice but still do not believe (verse 7). You can be attending church regularly and attending Sunday School. But with each passing week, the message of the gospel becomes so familiar that you take it for granted and do not actually take the step of faith to believe in Jesus. God’s Word does not have a hold in your life and your heart is excited only by the physical things of this life and not what is spiritual and precious. Will you continue to let the gospel pass you by and stubbornly harden your heart against God?

You know that you have hardened your heart if you have seen His works but still do not believe (verse 9). The Jews witnessed first-hand the power and wondrous miracles of God, yet they still disobeyed. We see God’s power in His creation. Only a fool would say there is no God because “the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” There is no excuse to say we have never seen the works of God! When you see lives transformed, that is also the power of God working in the hearts of men! Who can change hearts and make a sinner repent of his sins? Only God can!

Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart. The result of the unbelieving Jews was that they did not enter into the Promised Land. Dear children, if you have not believed in Jesus as your Saviour, what is causing you to delay? Desire what is spiritual and precious. The eternal future of your soul is at stake!

Thought: Is my heart hardened against God?

Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank You for your mercy and for being so longsuffering towards me. Please take away my stony heart and give me a heart of flesh that will desire to listen and believe in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.