S) "7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,
'Today if you hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tried Me by testing Me,
And saw My works for forty years."
8 Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tried Me by testing Me,
And saw My works for forty years."
Hebrews 3:7-9 (NASB)
O) The previous chapter broke down any pretense that Jesus was an angel of God. In the opening of this chapter, the writer breaks down any argument that Jesus was just another prophet or leader for God. By comparing Him to Moses (who was the preeminent figure of Judaism), and showing that Christ is more glorious than Moses, there leaves no doubt that Jesus is incomparable. Then, the writer makes a transition. After establishing the superiority of Christ, he moves to warn the readers not to take this fact lightly. It's not enough to simply know that Jesus is God, we are called to respond in worship, service, and faithfulness to Him. The Jews who left Egypt knew very well that the LORD was real, alive, and powerful. They had first-hand knowledge of His works. Even still, they hardened their hearts against His words, against the truth, and it cost them the blessings and promises in store for them. Their hardness of heart cost them their very lives. Also, subtly, in v.7 there is a corroboration that the Old Testament was inspired Scripture (see 2 Timothy 3:16). This passage is quoting Psalm 95:7-11 (except the last line isn't a direct quote, but it's no less true, as it is again supported throughout Scripture).
A) It is never going to be enough for me to know what the Bible says, if I am not willing to submit to the authority it carries as the words of God. Whether that is reading the Old Testament, which is clearly inspired by the Holy Spirit, or that is reading the New Testament, which is penned by apostles of Christ, speaking on His behalf. By now, I have seen enough of the fruit of the Spirit in my life, to know that God's ways are better for me than my own ways. I would serve Him is for no other reason, than that it is the best thing for my life. But, the more I read Scripture, the more I learn His voice through it, the more I soften my heart to His voice, the more I long to serve Him and worship Him, because I love Him. Even so, I have within my sinful flesh, the ability to harden my heart toward God. Whether that is trying to quiet the conviction I have in my heart about sinful behavior, or it is the insidious idolatry of self-worship, if I am not actively softening my heart, I think it is true to say that my heart is hardening. It will never be neutral.
P) Father, today I hear Your voice. Thank You for speaking. Thank You for giving me Your words. I pray that You continue to open my ears and eyes, to hear and see what You would have me know. Let me take that knowledge a step further, though, and submit myself to Your kingship, Lord. You are worthy of my service, my adoration, my worship, my life. I love You, Father God. Please remind me of that often, particularly when my heart is in danger of a hardness that I hate. You are worthy of my soft heart; You deserve that much, at least. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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