Friday Reading: Hebrews 3:7-13
Key Verse: Hebrews 3:13
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Devotion:
“One thing led to another...” How many times have you heard people say that or even use it as some sort of excuse for something that they have done. We could look into each one of our lives and see just how many times we have been guilty of falling into that same trap where we have let one thing lead to another and have ended up doing things that do not please God. We can read through our bibles and see that this has happened throughout history too, so we are not alone!
As we let one thing into our lives, we open a door for something else to come in. We start to become de-sensitised toward things that are not right and we continue to allow more and more into our lives until we are living a life that is no longer following in God’s will. The more we allow in, the more we tempt God or provoke Him because the more we try to justify through our own eyes rather than through His Word. The Children of Israel did exactly that and a full generation were not allowed to enter into the Holy Land because of their provocation towards God.
When we harden our hearts against Christian values we start to lose sight of the importance that God wants us to hold on those values. As we lose sight of those values, we lose sight of what God wants us to focus on and we then unknowingly invite more sin into our lives, thus provoking God. This sort of thing is almost impossible to defend against when you keep to yourself because you will give in as your burden gets heavier; relying on others and especially God to help with your burden will encourage you to remain strong and allow God to continue working in your life. God does not want to destroy everything just to get rid of sin because He knows we have the chance to turn away from sin and turn to Him. That is where He wants us, by His side, depending on Him.
Points to Ponder:
Do you give in to things easily?
Are you gaining strength through working together with God?
