Hearing Aid

Today’s Verse:

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: ~Hebrews 3:7-8

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How is your hearing this morning? Hearing is one of the five major senses that God has given to us. When it becomes difficult for us to hear, we are in need of a hearing aid to help us. In Hebrews 3, the believers to whom Paul was writing were having difficulty hearing what God was saying. They didn’t necessarily have a hearing problem in the sense that they could not pick up the sound of his voice, but rather, they became selective in what they wanted to hear. Our scripture and devotion this morning is a “hearing aid” for us.

We see the conflict.

The believers were going backwards in their faith. They were becoming less and less obedient to the word of God. Certain false teachers came into their congregation and told them that the Lord Jesus was less than God. When you believe that Jesus is less than God, that throws everything about what we believe and how we are to behave into chaos. They were having conflicts with God about living for him. We must remember all conflicts that we have with other people, the church, spiritual leaders in our lives, and authority as a whole is an indication we have a conflict with God. God reminded Moses that the Hebrews’ rejection of him was in effect a rejection of the Lord. When there is a lack of hearing on our part, there is a conflict between us and God.

We see the callousness.

When there is a decline in our hearing, it is a sign of our hearts being hardened to the Lord. A hardening of our heart arteries is not good. It is a sign of plaque buildup in our heart and reduction of blood flow. This can eventually result in a heart attack, and even death. Spiritually, a hardening of our hearts towards God’s word can be fatal as well. It can affect our compassion for people who need to be saved. It can affect our praying. It can affect our attitude towards other Christians. We tend to become more skeptical and cynical. We tend to skip out of church and lead other weaker Christians down a similar pathway. Be careful of becoming calloused and seared in your conscience and heart.

We see a comparison.

Paul compares these believers’ condition to when Moses led the nation of Israel to a location that was named Massah and Meribah. When they arrived there, the first thing the people noticed was that there was no water. They immediately let the circumstances affect their spirit, and they chided with Moses and murmured against him. God called that day “the day of provocation.” God tested them to bring out what was in them. Instead of seeing their situation as an opportunity for God to show himself strong, the Hebrews were hardened in their hearts to God. God was speaking, but they chose to be hardened. Paul was saying it happened before, and it can happen again. Are you having difficulty hearing from God?

We see a command.

First, we must comply with God right now. He said, “Today.” Deal with your hearing problem “today.” Second, trace which way your steps are taking you. If they are not in accord with His Word, you are going in the wrong direction. Third, listen to His voice. This means that the Lord has given every word, every sentence, and every passage to you on purpose. Don’t allow any hardening to control you. Be aware of the deceitfulness of sin.

It’s time for a “hearing aid” if we have been hit-and-miss with God and His Word. Listen to the voice of God through His Word, His Spirit, and teachers God has placed into your life.

Have a hearing-restored God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Matthew 7-8

#Hardness #Hearing #Hebrews #Temptation