February 21, 2014 (Numbers 8, 9; Acts 28)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.” Acts 28:24 NLT
Observation: Paul finally made it to Rome. He called together the local Jewish leaders to get acquainted with them and to proclaim to them that the hope of Israel, The Messiah, had already come. Paul explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus using the scriptures. Some were persuaded, while others simply did not believe. After they argued back and forth Paul left them with this final word, “The Holy Spirit was right when He said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, ‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes, so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.”
Application: If your heart was hardened, would you know it? Do you think the Jewish leaders knew they were rejecting the God they claimed to serve? Do we reject the God we claim to serve by rejecting His truth also? Any of us, so easily, could find ourselves in the same position as the Jewish leaders. Too many times we trust and believe what we already have our minds made up to believe and we miss the simple truth when it’s presented to us. There are so many different opinions of what scripture says (denominations) floating around. So many different opinions of what God wants, and what God expects. So how are we to know which one is the truth? How are we to safe guard our heart and ensure it does not become hardened? The answer is really very simple. We must turn back to the scripture and forsake the understanding of men. We must open up the Holy Bible and put down the New York Times best seller. We must trust the Holy Spirit to teach us and stop trying to learn of Him in some easier way. We simply must obey God’s plan and heed His instruction. There is no other way, He is the Way.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that have provided for, and protected me. Thank You for Your Word that is alive and feeds my soul. Soften my hardened heart and restore the joy of my salvation. Restore my desire to be in Your presence. Help me to see, hear, and understand Your simple truth when it’s presented to me. In Jesus name, Amen!