I have met people in my life who have hardened their heart so much toward God that He has very little opportunity to touch their heart and to bless them. You might think I am talking about people who do not believe in God; and while there are many examples of those kinds of people, I am really talking about believers. Yes, I am talking about brothers and sisters in Christ who have become calloused to the incredible things of God. These are believers who doubt other people’s conversions. These people are quick to say that someone is beyond the point of genuine repentance. They never believe the church can raise the money necessary for that new building, or to take on that new missionary family, or to finally pay off the mortgage for the church.
I have met other people who rejoice in the face of challenges. These are people who have faith beyond what is normal, and in my opinion is really heavenly faith. I love these people. There is no challenge too great for their God. While others see the giants of trials and troubles, they simply bend down and pick up a few smooth stones. These are people who believe that the money can be raised to pay off the debt, or to build that new building, or to take on that new missionary family. These are people who choose to focus on the power of an awesome God, and step out by faith. Which of these describes you today?
I want to include the entire 95th Psalm today, because it demonstrates this contrast in viewpoint better than I ever could. “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.”
Let’s determine today to offer praise to our incredible God, rather than a hardened heart! The choice is yours, but I think God is worth all our praise!