Getting Through!

It appears that NOTHING is able to STAND IN THE WAY of the Lord getting through. When a crowd of people drove Jesus out of Nazareth and were ready to throw Him from the brow of a hill, He walked right through their midst. ( Luke 4:29-30) When Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb, even a large stone rolled across its entrance ( Matthew 27:60) and being sealed and guarded ( Matthew 27:65-66) could not keep Him from getting through. And when the disciples were fearfully hiding behind a locked door, twice the Lord was still able to get through to be with them. ( John 20:19-20 & 26)

Yes, it appears that NOTHING is able to STAND IN THE WAY of the Lord getting through, EXCEPT…! Unfortunately there seems to be at least one thing. With all the power of the Lord there remains the great challenge of the hardness of hearts.

When the disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables He responded…
“(14) Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. (15) For THIS PEOPLE’S HEART HAS GROWN DULL, and with THEIR EARS they can BARELY HEAR, and THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’” ( Matthew 13:14-15 ESV)

Perhaps there is no harder substance than that of a stubborn unbelieving heart! Such plagued the nation of Israel during the days of Moses. God’s prophets throughout the generations carried His message to such. Is it any surprise Jesus was faced with the same and that hardened hearts are still around today?

The Hebrew writer warned…
“(7) Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, (8) DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, (9) where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works (10) for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART; they have not known my ways.’ (11) As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ”” ( Hebrews 2:7-11 ESV)

Then the Hebrew writer urged…
“(12) Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you AN EVIL, UNBELIEVING HEART, leading you to fall away from the living God. (13) But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ THAT NONE OF YOU MAY BE HARDENED BY THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN. (14) For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” ( Hebrews 3:12-14 ESV)

May we keep our hearts open and softened toward Jesus so that He can continually get through to us. Let us allow NOTHING TO STAND IN THE WAY of His truth and Will being taken to heart, enabling us to live pleasing to Him and one day be ushered into that eternal rest He has gone to prepare.

Have a great day MAINTAINING A PLIABLE HEART BEFORE THE LORD!
Carl

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