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there are a lot of difficult passages in the bible. i’ll admit it. there are parts of the word that confuse me…others that seem contradictory…and still others that raise doubt and division.
the book of hebrews contains its fair share. here’s one of them:
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:12-15
a pastor-blogger i like to read had these things to say about what a hardened heart looks like:
It happens when people know they should respond to the Gospel but keep finding reasons to say no.
It happens when a person knows they are in an ungodly dating relationship but fears being alone more than they fear God.
It happens when a person knows their life is out of control…but fears if they confess their sin and ask for help it may seriously damage their reputation.
It happens when someone knows they should stop spending money the way they do…but have become dependent upon numbing their pain with the temporary satisfaction that trinkets bring.
It happens when a church leaders knows the direction God is wanting him/her to take the ministry…but they refuse to do so because they fear being unpopular with the people.
It happens when a person knows they should not continue to pursue the “innocent flirting” with someone at work…but…it feeds their ego or fulfills their emotions so they continue the practice.
It happens when a person knows they should stop the intimate connections they are making online…but refuses to stop because of the pleasure it brings.
It happens when we know we should invite someone to church and/or share Christ with them…but we convince ourselves that they would not be interested OR that we will simply do it later.
this is powerful stuff.
how’s your heart?
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