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- Oct 26, 2007
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And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. Exodus 9:34
Pharaoh is the villain, right? You would never harden your heart the way he did. And yet, anyone can become calloused, sometimes even those who know God. God blesses you, you get used to it, and as soon as He puts out one fire in your life, you forget about Him and move on--until there's another fire. But God is not your heavenly fireman. He's your heavenly Father, and He wants you to have an everyday relationship with Him.
Religion can become a cover for hardheartedness too--the kind that limits God to your perception of Him. Peter experienced a wake-up call in this area a few times, including when God interrupted his pious-sounding offer to build tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah during the transfiguration. God told him, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Matthew 17:5).
Anytime you try and add something to Jesus--Jesus plus works, Jesus plus service, Jesus plus your sterling reputation--you're missing the point. All those other things are important, but your priority in life is to know God better and to follow Jesus, wherever He leads, whatever you must sacrifice to do so.
Pharaoh is the villain, right? You would never harden your heart the way he did. And yet, anyone can become calloused, sometimes even those who know God. God blesses you, you get used to it, and as soon as He puts out one fire in your life, you forget about Him and move on--until there's another fire. But God is not your heavenly fireman. He's your heavenly Father, and He wants you to have an everyday relationship with Him.
Religion can become a cover for hardheartedness too--the kind that limits God to your perception of Him. Peter experienced a wake-up call in this area a few times, including when God interrupted his pious-sounding offer to build tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah during the transfiguration. God told him, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Matthew 17:5).
Anytime you try and add something to Jesus--Jesus plus works, Jesus plus service, Jesus plus your sterling reputation--you're missing the point. All those other things are important, but your priority in life is to know God better and to follow Jesus, wherever He leads, whatever you must sacrifice to do so.
