Coffee With The Lord

So what can harden a heart? My experience and the clear teaching of Scripture points to at least four things: First of all “sin” (in this passage it’s called “the deceitfulness of sin). Self-will can also harden a heart – just insisting on your own way and will. Suffering, if we are not careful, can harden our heart toward God – we become embittered. And finally, just the “stuff” of life can harden our hearts, much like a callous hardens skin to pain.

What I guess is needed is “a tough hide and a tender heart!” I need a tough hide that doesn’t take circumstances and offenses that may come my way personally. But I also need to maintain a tender heart toward God and others.

I’ve got to tell you, I want to have, and maintain, a “tender heart!” I want a heart most of all that is tender toward God – His will for my life, His voice within my heart, and His dealings in my life! He is my loving “Heavenly Father” and He works in my life for my benefit and disciplines me to form His character within me! (See Hebrews 12:5-11) Oh, Lord, soften my heart! …And only God can do it! (Ezekiel 11:19-20; 36:25-27) And help me guard my heart in order to maintain a “tender heart” toward You and others!

Jesus went first! And I’m so glad!! I read about it this morning in my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord”…

“It was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering… Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery… Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” (From Hebrews 2:10–18 ESV)

Because He was willing to “go first” Jesus is able to help us in every way… In life, in temptation, and even in one of the most frightening things we will ever experience (because we’ve never experienced it before)… in death!

I have a dear friend, Nick Wilson, a missionary, who through the pain of cancer over several years has exemplified the grace of faith, the steadfastness of trust, and the joy of the Lord! This week he made his final journey from earth to heaven. His family testified that he said that he “felt like an excited kid with his boarding pass at the departure gate waiting for the plane to board.” He was impatient to get going to his final destination. Who took away Nick’s fear of death? The one who went first! “Through death He destroyed the one who has the power of death… and delivered all those who through the fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery!”

Thank you Jesus for “going first!” Thank you Nick, as well, for showing us all how to live, how to face challenges, and how to die “in Christ!”

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man [a clear prophetic reference to the “Son of Man, Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed!”

Gotta tell you, I am grateful that Daniel’s “nightmare” ended that way! Worldly kings and kingdoms will come and go before Jesus returns. Prophecy indicates things in our world will get worse before they get better! The Bible predicts a frightening future in many ways… But there is another king and kingdom to come – God’s kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven… I’ll take a “nightmare” (in this case a prophetic reality) that ends that way any day!