You must meet each challenge with your feet planted firmly on the ground, standing as tall as you are, and never panic.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Hickory Jack0
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
–Hebrews 4:12(NKJV)
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“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
The above is repeated three times in Hebrews chapters 3 and 4. The people of the early church were being warned from the history of Israel not to rebel and thus harden their hearts against God. God wants us to hear His message, it is all around us, but we have to be open and ready to hear. Not only that but then we must obey. The Lord will not bring judgment if His people repent, humble themselves and obey. But to not do so brings about a hard heart.
Look around you, there are plenty of opportunities to hear the Word. The Psalmist writes, “It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void.” (119:126, NKJV) In his day the word of the Lord was being disregarded. The Psalmist is concerned as he looks around at society. He sees the word of the Lord being scoffed at, mocked, ridiculed, blasphemed and of no relevance in the eyes of the people. My, my, my doesn’t that seem relevant to our situation today?
There has never been a time in our history when the Bible is unpopular, disregarded, and thought irrelevant. Another translation states it this way, “It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.” (ESV) Never doubt that when the cup of iniquity is full, God will act, but more important is that we, as believers, do not disregard His Word. There is a danger of becoming complacent and compromising. The Psalmist is saying that in the midst of all the evil and wickedness around him, he will obey the word of the Lord. He would not do what everyone else was doing.
The next two verses should bring us encouragement! Notice the very next word of verse 127, “Therefore…” He sees the people around him mocking and disregarding the Word of the Lord, so what does the Psalmist say, “Therefore [when I see all of this] I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold! Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.” (119:127-128, NKJV) It would be easy for the Psalmist to walk in the way of those around him, but he declares that God’s Word is right, and that he hates the falseness that the people have taken. He loved God’s Word! It is His Word that will stand forever.
Therefore (there’s that word again) what are we, you and I, going to do as we walk in the midst of a perverse people? Are we going to stand firm upon the Word of God and not waver? The Word gives us life, hope, direction, and the promise of glory. Don’t join the naysayers, or the people-pleasers. Stay with God’s Word, grasp it even more tightly than ever before. Love it, adore it, for it will be our way of truth as we move through this life.
———————————-
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
The above is repeated three times in Hebrews chapters 3 and 4. The people of the early church were being warned from the history of Israel not to rebel and thus harden their hearts against God. God wants us to hear His message, it is all around us, but we have to be open and ready to hear. Not only that but then we must obey. The Lord will not bring judgment if His people repent, humble themselves and obey. But to not do so brings about a hard heart.
Look around you, there are plenty of opportunities to hear the Word. The Psalmist writes, “It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void.” (119:126, NKJV) In his day the word of the Lord was being disregarded. The Psalmist is concerned as he looks around at society. He sees the word of the Lord being scoffed at, mocked, ridiculed, blasphemed and of no relevance in the eyes of the people. My, my, my doesn’t that seem relevant to our situation today?
There has never been a time in our history when the Bible is unpopular, disregarded, and thought irrelevant. Another translation states it this way, “It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.” (ESV) Never doubt that when the cup of iniquity is full, God will act, but more important is that we, as believers, do not disregard His Word. There is a danger of becoming complacent and compromising. The Psalmist is saying that in the midst of all the evil and wickedness around him, he will obey the word of the Lord. He would not do what everyone else was doing.
The next two verses should bring us encouragement! Notice the very next word of verse 127, “Therefore…” He sees the people around him mocking and disregarding the Word of the Lord, so what does the Psalmist say, “Therefore [when I see all of this] I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold! Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.” (119:127-128, NKJV) It would be easy for the Psalmist to walk in the way of those around him, but he declares that God’s Word is right, and that he hates the falseness that the people have taken. He loved God’s Word! It is His Word that will stand forever.
Therefore (there’s that word again) what are we, you and I, going to do as we walk in the midst of a perverse people? Are we going to stand firm upon the Word of God and not waver? The Word gives us life, hope, direction, and the promise of glory. Don’t join the naysayers, or the people-pleasers. Stay with God’s Word, grasp it even more tightly than ever before. Love it, adore it, for it will be our way of truth as we move through this life.