But you refused to listen to my prophets... and you are the ones who were hurt by what you did (Jeremiah 25:7, Contemporary English Version)
Scripture: Jeremiah 25:1-11
Song: "Not by Might"
Hardened hearts keep more people out of Heaven than hardened arteries. The typical scenario goes like this: Something painful happens; a person feels wronged; bitterness follows but is pushed down and internalized. A heart becomes hardened to God. Admit it, we've all seen it. Or been there ourselves
Later God calls bitter people to repent and accept His love for them. Still, some people choose to reject His invitations, sometimes even blaming the voice that tried to help.
This is what happened to the prophet Jeremiah, a man who called the people of Juhan (for 23 years!) to turn back to God from their idolatries. It centainly would have been much easier for Jeremiah just to blend in and ignore the evils around him. Yet he reminds us to speak out even amid a hostile and dangerous culture of unbelief.
We can debate whether or not Jeremiah actually made much difference; Judah's captivity ensued. But at least he presented the truth as God called him to do. Like him, we are simply to obey, leaving the results in God's hands.
Prayer: Father, I desire to communicate the gospel to lost people, regardless of the reception. Through the power of Christ's sacrifice, I pray Amen.
- taken from 365 Devotions by Standard (Pocket Edition)
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7 comments:
This is one of the areas that I feel I'm called to be in missions, which is local missions. To try to help people see the light and the love of God through their hardened hearts and logical minds, tho I may have no effect like Jeremiah, I know I must listen and obey God as I feel this is what He has called me to do.
Brian Yee -> rbk(1,0)
- please pray for me in this category, this is really starting to be sad.
Definitely been there with the hardened heart to people and to God. Everything becomes numb and you don't care anymore. Everything becomes at a standstill moment b/w you and God.
kim rbk (0,1)
Brian, i know its hard to keep it up with this rbk thing. we'll all pray about it, bros in Christ =) yea man, i think maybe you're harsh on yourself cuz not all of us have the same standards in terms of what we think are violating rbk. i think if we had the same mentality as you and was harsh about everything, i think we'd be in the same boat.
It's a proven scientific fact that men do think about "sex" every couple of minutes (so thus all of us should be at [0,0] heck i don't even think i should have [0,1] !) lol but with God, we ask for forgiveness in what we do and what we think. So in God's view, we are all perfect if we do so in prayer and in action.
-kim
i agree with kim, brian i think you might be a tad hard on yourself - all of us would be (0,0) if we get nailed for just having the thoughts pop into our heads!
But yah with the devo i think we can all use a little pick-me-up when dealing w/ ppl with hardened hearts, even if they're christian and their hearts are hardened.
- Jono (1,2)
yea, im sure everyone knows a few people with hardened hearts. I know a few as well, we gotta pray for 'em.
And yea, brian man you're totally setting the bar high. Its great that you are, but always remember that your scale is high up there, dont get discouraged man, you can do it!
-drew rbk(memory lapse)
thanks a lot guys, I appreciate it.
Brian Yee -> rbk (2,0)
hardened heart... reminds me of Pharaoh and how he didn't let the Jews out of slavery....
I just wish that i could be more of a forgiving person... since i hold alot of things down upon myself.
somehow i still think we should set a standard...
and we should go by that standard in RBK.. but if we feel that we have ourselves.. failed rbk.. just make a note at the side saying that i was tempted today on my own standards or something...
-Jon (2,2)
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