Do not harden your hearts!

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord, the God of Israel. All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the Lord that he had made holy in Jerusalem. The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy. Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels. He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. (2 Chronicles 36:11–21)

I am beginning to feel like a prophet. It seems easy yet if true, if I broadcast my thoughts, most people would turn away. No one wants to hear anything that says, “Smarten up or face the consequences.”

Jesus died to give me new life, His life. He changed the world, but He had to be crucified to do it. Christian martyrs at formal count now average just over a dozen a day. It could be higher, and it could happen here as faith in Christ is increasingly mocked.

What is worse than being persecuted for my faith? How about falling into the hands of Almighty God for not living my faith? While He is merciful and gracious, He gave me this new life that I ought to live it. Christians are not to assume that grace means we can do whatever we want. God says to us:

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:25–29)

At the same time, Jesus is also for me, willing to enable me to obey Him, even though it costs me time, money, and other sacrifices. If I refuse I will not lose my salvation, but eternal rewards. If I obey, I could be persecuted, even suffer death, but Christians cannot die — we only change our address!

Jesus, life here is unpredictable; however, the OT reveals what can be lost if I disobey You and the NT shows what is mine because You died for me. My obedience can be a powerful tool in Your hands. Even if it isn’t, enable me to willingly do what You say and deeply desire that You are honored and obeyed by others.

Is my faith like Noah’s faith?

 

Local news today brings up an incident that illustrates the times we live in. A woman who worked in the education realm posted on social media a photo that illustrated how children are being brainwashed today just as they were in Europe by the Nazi’s. She lost her job over it and now is being threatened that she cannot apply for that job again. This incident shouts that It is okay for those who are being accused of brainwashing to speak out against Christian principles, but not okay that Christians speak out against any activities, particularly those that go against moral or godly principles.

I wonder what it was like for Noah. He worked on the ark for more than one hundred years. His neighbors no doubt made fun of him, yet his actions spoke against them in condemnation for the sin in their lives.

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

MacArthur speaks to me with, “Your actions and words should rebuke our godless society.” When I think of the woman fighting for the right of free speech, I know that the cost of rebuking can be high indeed. However, we are living in a time much like Noah did. Is God asking His people to step up and be heard? Is He asking me?

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)

Noah’s world was a mess. Before moving in judgment against the most evil and corrupt society in history, God appointed him to build an ark. This has become a symbol of life and salvation to all who believe God. For those who disbelieve, it represents impending death and judgment. In itself, the ark was not the only rebuke to the godless in that time; concurrent with constructing the ark, Noah preached about coming judgment:

God did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly . . .  making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly. (2 Peter 2:5–6)

As MacArthur says, every board he cut and every nail he drove in was an illustration of the urgency of his message. God’s warning was stern, even horrifying, but His patience and mercy prevailed for 120 years. As Peter said, “Because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.” (1 Peter 3:20) In other words, the people had ample warning of judgment, but they chose to disregard Noah’s message.

This is sad, yet many today have the same attitude. Jesus said:

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37–39)

Like Noah, I am to proclaim righteousness to an evil and perverse generation by my works and by my life and be faithful to do so even if people don’t want to listen. Most don’t listen, and I will not have 120 years like Noah did. My hope is that God will raise up many to enter the ark of atonement and speak up — that God’s purposes will be accomplished before Jesus returns and before that final judgment begins.

PRAY: Lord, You know that even those close to me sometimes scoff at God’s judgment and mock my testimony. It is easy to find fault with Your people as we are sinners too . . . but with a difference. Your atoning work gives us forgiveness and hope. We know that we have eternal life and that You are at work to change us into Your image. Help us to not be discouraged and to focus on those who need our prayers. May I be available as Your mouthpiece whenever You ask me to speak out against sin and also share the good news that all are welcome and invited to enter the ark of atonement — and be saved from Your judgment to come.

PONDER: Read 2 Peter 3 noting how the prospect of future judgment should affect me and my growth as a believer in Jesus Christ.

 

 

Being and doing — like Jesus

 

When my children were little, we used a ‘chore chart’ to assign various responsibilities, rotating them for variety and to teach them to do routine things. One chore was designated only as a “special” chore. That meant if they noticed something that had to be done, they could do it, put a checkmark on the chart, but never tell anyone what it was that they did. This taught them a value system of doing the right thing whether it netted praise, allowance, or any other type of reward.

I noticed today’s verse does not refer to results but to what kind of person is involved. It could end with “without love, no one listens” but instead it says:

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)

The devotional writer speaks of love as an indispensable ingredient in the learning process. He said a reward of being loving is a good response from students. While that is usually true, this NT passage is talking more about who I am by obeying God rather than the results in the lives of others. He is correct to say that not everyone who hears loving speech and are treated in a loving way will respond positively. The OT prophets loved the people but they didn’t listen, even wanted to kill Jeremiah. I believe the reason for love is first becoming who we should be.

We spent yesterday afternoon with a family who were persecuted in their home country and had to flee. They are very loving and kind, yet one of them told me they were hated for believing in Jesus. This was not polite rejection but open hostility. Loving as Christ loves will result in responses that Christ experienced. Some believed, yet others cried, “Crucify Him!”

I cannot depend on the results as motivation to selflessly love others. They might hate me. Today’s verse ends by saying that without love, “I am nothing” and suggests: “with love, I am like Jesus.” Other Christians will respond well to that, but those who despise the gospel will not.

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2 Timothy 3:12)

Hatred for what I do could be a big turn-off for me as well. In other words, being hated for being like Jesus may anger me rather than remembering this is an honor and my destiny. Jesus said,

It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. (Matthew 10:25)

God’s goal is clear and I need to keep it clear, especially if loving others results in negativity:

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2–3)

I wanted my children to do some chores without tangible reward to build in them the desire to do good without having any other reason that it was the right thing to do. Today’s verse is clear too; speaking motivated by a love for others is the right thing to do, whether it turns out well or not. Without doing that, I am nothing.

PRAY: Jesus, doing the right thing as a child was almost a game for my three little ones, yet now as adults I see how You have blessed them with a lasting motivation to do right. I see in them how they remain fearless in this attitude because You have shaped their hearts to speak with concern for truth and justice, even when some react with hostility.

PONDER: What do Acts 20:19, 31, Romans 9:2–3, and 2 Corinthians 2:4 tell me about an attitude of love toward others when talking to them?