Hard Hearts

But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:13

Sin is deceptive – it lies, it cheats, it will do anything to cause us to stumble and fall. One of the most devious things it can do is to harden our hearts. It can harden our hearts without us even realizing it. Let’s be warned from these Biblical examples of what this looks like and how it happens:

LACK OF COMPASSION
Deuteronomy 15:7: “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother”

DENY THE OBVIOUS
Nehemiah 9:17: “They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.

REFUSE TO LISTEN
2 Kings 17:14: “ Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God.”

PRIDE
Nehemiah 9:16: “But they and our fathers acted proudly, hardened their necks, and did not heed Your commandments.”

DESENSITIZED TO CORRECTION
Proverbs 29:1: “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

FAILURE TO BELIEVE
Mark 16:14: “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.”

Compare your heart to these. Is your response to God and His word similar? “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Hebrews 3:15)       dd