Morning Moments

Hardening the Heart

Hebrews 3:8 (KJV)
⁸ Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 

Hebrews 3:15 (KJV)
¹⁵ While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 

Hebrews 4:7 (KJV)
⁷ Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

The three verses above "frighten me to faithfulness"!  "Well," I can hear someone say, "one should never be frightened as a Christian".  But then I think of the words of Paul, "I fear...lest I run in vain..."  And again, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom".  And again by the words of Hosea, "There is no fear of God in the land..."

It's strange to me how we always try to minimize "the fear of the Lord".  I understand the texts above were written to those Jewish believers who were struggling between law and grace, but I'm not sure we are not guilty of the same thing in many ways.  In any event, God IS speaking to His people and I always want to know what He says and what He means by what He says when I do not clearly understand His meaning.

Our Father teaches us as children because we are, but also because in many ways we continue to think and act as children.  Maybe, just maybe, sometimes our familiarity breeds contempt.  In other words, because we don't address the Lord as "Sir" we may sometimes become almost disrespectful if you know what I mean.  I'm just sharing some thoughts here, nothing written in stone.

We "maybe" casually use the name JESUS and almost forget that He is the Sovereign Lord, so we rush into His presence, even though He is King of kings and Lord of lords, as if he were merely a buddy.  Now I know He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  I know our relationship with Him is personal, but I am just wondering about how casual we are about it.  

For example:  I remember saying to someone once, who professed faith in Christ, but who lived a very casual "Christian" lifestyle with no daily time in the Word of God and no sense of need for serious prayer, who saw very little need for personal fellowship with other believers, but who was critical of those who did seriously seek God, "I think I will just start living as you live".  "But you can't do that, you are a pastor," was the reply.  "What does that matter?" I asked.  I am not sure that is not pretty typical.

Maybe that is why so many of our hearts are hardened toward God!  Maybe, just maybe, many have drifted so far from God that their "faith" has become casual and hearts have become calloused.  I don't know, but there must be some explanation for so much "Christian indifference".  

I DO KNOW ONE THING!  I just can't seem to do it!  I am afraid to drift far from Him!  Somehow, in my heart of hearts, when I tolerate sin or indifference, it is as if I am standing unclothed in a blizzard.  O GOD, for the sake of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, gives us hearts for you, deep and abiding respect and reverence for you, and a love and longing for you as has the deer that has been chased by the hunter longs for the water.  FORGIVE US!  FILL US!  FEED US!  FELLOWSHIP WITH US!  FIND US FAITHFUL!