HARD HEARTS

HARD HEARTS

‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! —Acts 28:26-31

There are those who hear about Jesus with their ears, but they do not understand because their hearts are calloused. They have hardened hearts. “They have closed their eyes” and do not want to see. What was it that they did not hear, understand and see? It was Paul teaching as “he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. They just did not understand Who Jesus was/is and What He had done/is doing. When this happened Paul ministered to others who would be more open to the message.

So it is with us as we seek to proclaim the good news about Jesus. We need to go to those who will listen, minister to those who will listen and have soft hearts. A hard heart will not receive the Word of God, but soft hearts are more likely to. It is fruitless to continue with a hard-hearted person. Paul understood this. May we also keep this in mind and always remember that it is always God who “gives the increase” or causes the seed of His Word to grow (I Corinthians 3:7). Let us be faithful with the responsibility God has given us and trust Him for the results.

Dear Father, please help me to be sensitive to the soft hearts ready to receive Your Word about Jesus. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDAITgJXO1I