8 March 2021
Hebrews 3:8 The Ingredients
... don't harden your hearts... 

Having a “hard heart” is a common phrase in scripture, and Christians use this phrase a lot too. But does anyone know the definition of a hard heart or the ingredients for getting one? Many Believers assume a hard heart is just someone who is stubborn or angry or defiant. These are true and accurate adjectives of a hard heart. But how did that heart get that way?

1 John 1:9-10 has the answer. Here is the definition of a hard heart:  But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

A person with no place in their heart for God’s Word has a hard heart, and God’s Word is that we are sinners, and the Good News of God’s Word is that Jesus came to forgive sinners!

A hard heart belongs to the person who doesn't confess sin (this is rooted in pride) and/or claims they don't sin at all (also rooted in pride).  We understand this from our own relationships. There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with a person who has clearly wronged you and claims they haven't. Or how a false apology (I'm sorry YOU were offended) is really not apology at all. These are actions by a person with a hard heart. A person who never admits fault has a hard heart. 

Jesus says it like this: “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

So, if I want to NOT have a hard heart, then swallow my pride, confess my sin and seek forgiveness often, quickly and without stipulation. Jesus paid the price for every offense for all of time to free me from my self-entitled obligation to “collect.” This is actually very freeing and the ingredients I’m looking for – ingredients for a soft heart.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for giving me a new, clean, soft heart that is good. Help me confess my sin so pride will not settle into my heart. Thank you that I can freely forgive others because you have freely forgiven me. Thank you that I do not have the burden of collecting debts from people who’ve wronged me, for you paid that tab in full! Help my heart to be full of you today. I love you and thank you and pray in your name, amen.

3 March 2021
Hebrews 12:12 Get a Grip
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.

This is God’s definition of perseverance. Everyone understands what taking a “new grip” means. It means you haven’t opened that jar yet, try again.

It is easy to not persevere, especially now. I am very, very, very, very frustrated at the inconsistent and arbitrary response to disease lately. We are approaching one year of a very restrictive and unfriendly lifestyle based on the concept that what’s going around is contagious and we can’t all go to the hospital at once – then that turned into shut everything down until there’s a cure. What?

The Bible has a plan for everything, and the plan for illnesses is to quarantine the sick. (See Leviticus 13) We should persevere together and make sure people can earn a living, first graders learn how to read, and grandparents get their snuggles. Instead, we all are persevering alone. Today I am so frustrated that perfectly good twenty year olds can’t get jobs or dates or legitimate degrees. How many people feel like I do right now: What’s the point? Why did I bother waking up? Today is just as stupid as yesterday.

So take a new grip with your tired hands... Ok.

Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

I’m not waiting for a cure. I am waiting on the Lord.

Dear God,
Ok. I am persevering today with you. You give me strength and patience to deal with insane leaders and ridiculous experts. Thank you for being with me. I love you and thank you. Amen.