Friday, October 15, 2021
Keep a Tender Heart
“Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12 NLT).
I have two sons, Christopher and Jonathan. Christopher is with the Lord, and Jonathan is a pastor. Both of them were prodigals earlier in life, but I had a lot of patience with them because I knew that Cathe and I had laid the foundation. I believed they would make that deeper commitment to Christ, which they both did in time.
When you’re so familiar with the truths of God’s Word, you can become hardened by the very truths that should have softened you.
As I’ve often said, the same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay. The same message that impacts someone else actually can cause you to have a harder heart. The very truth that should have softened your heart can cause it to become hardened.
Jesus’s own disciples allowed their hearts to harden. Before He performed the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fish, He said to them, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in?” (Mark 8:17 NLT).
So how do you know if you have a hardened heart? One indication is that you just stop caring. You don’t care about your spiritual growth, about other Christians, or about lost people.
You also don’t want to worship. When you come into church and others are engaging in worship, you stand back and fold your arms. You think, “That’s too emotional for me.”
Another indication of a hardened heart is that you’re always critical. You always see the bad and never see the good.
The Bible warns, “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12 NLT).
You make your choices, and then your choices make you. So keep a tender heart.
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Grief is one of life’s most difficult challenges. Pastor Greg Laurie experienced this truth when his son Christopher passed away suddenly. Discover comfort and healing in times of pain as you read his book Hope for Hurting Hearts. Receive your copy as our gift for your donation of any amount to Harvest Ministries this month.
