Do You Have A Hardened Heart?

Most of us have heard the somewhat frightening and usually applicable to SOMEONE ELSE phrase, "hardened heart." I found it interesting that the gospel writer Mark includes a statement in 6:52, in reference to the 12 disciples, that "their hearts were hardened." Think of it. These men had been with Jesus for some time (1 1/2 to 2 years?), witnessing His divinely powerful work and listening to His astonishing preaching and yet THEY had hardened hearts!! Even the most committed of us can have hardened hearts!

What was this condition called "hardened hearts"? Mark tells us that their hearts were obviously hardened because they "did not understand about the loaves" v.52a. WHAT did they not understand? Apparently, the miracle of Jesus feeding as many as 20,000 people from one lunch SHOULD HAVE taught them that it is not an astounding thing that this same Jesus could also walk on a stormy Sea of Galilee. But when Jesus identified Himself during the storm and got into the boat, the men were astounded, as though this were a revelation of Jesus that was totally unexpected and unlike anything else they had seen or experienced. In others words, what the 12 SHOULD HAVE learned about Jesus when He fed the 5,000 (20,000?) was that He has control over nature, over material things. They SHOULD HAVE learned that He has divine power equal to ANY problem or need that could arise. But they somehow missed it.

It certainly wasn't the only time they missed the point. Look at Mark 8:17...it's even worse.

Well, I can see myself in their sandals...how about you?

A hardened heart in believers has to do with a condition where we are not seeing and learning and understanding what God is seeking to teach us because our heart has ceased to be open and teachable and willing/obedient. This condition is referred to in numerous places in Scripture.

• Hebrews 3:12,13
• Jeremiah 7:23ff
• Psalm 95:8
• Proverbs 28:14

Proverbs 28:14 is a very significant passage because it gives us a very helpful definition of what a hardened heart is.

"Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity." This passage teaches us:

• A hardened heart is the OPPOSITE of a heart that fears the Lord. To fear the Lord is to trust, be humble before, reverence, and obey the Lord. Therefore a hardened heart is one that is unbelieving, proud, not worshipful, and disobedient.
• Whereas the person who fears the Lord is blessed by the Lord the one who hardens his heart falls into calamity. It's one or the other: blessing or calamity. The determiner is whether our heart is hardened or fearing the Lord.

In this verse we see the truth that our hearts are NEVER STATIC or NEUTRAL. Either we are fearing the Lord or hardening our hearts toward Him. Either we are inviting the blessing of the Lord because we are hearing him, obeying him, humbly worshiping him OR we are inviting calamity (evil, wickedness) into our lives because we are giving lip service without the reality of an open, teachable, willing heart.

Where are you? I have found recently that I can have a hardened heart and not even know it (that seems to go along with the "denseness" that characterizes a hardened heart). When you read the Scriptures, are they alive? Do you read them to hear and know the Lord? When He points out something from His Word - as you read or hear it taught - do you obey? HOW EASY it is to be one of those James pegs: hearers but not doers of the Word.

What is God's remedy for a hardened heart? Hallelujah! There is a remedy. It may sound all too familiar:

• Confession and repentance: "Lord, I have been turning a deaf ear to you. I have been following my own plans for life instead of yours. Have mercy on me...forgive me...cleanse me...give me ears to hear. Show me how to turn a listening ear and an obedient heart and a humble, worshipful posture towards You."
• Fear the Lord: listen for HIS voice in the Word; posture yourself as a disciple who will do whatever He says; TRUST that His way is best and that HE delights to give power to the weak so that they learn to fear Him in a life-giving way.
• Make sure you surround yourself with others who fear the Lord. Hebrews 3:13: "...Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

The Lord can and will pour the oil of His Spirit on your hardened heart so that there is a new softness, a new openness, a new joy, a new teachableness and understanding of spiritual things, a new blessed walk with Him.

DO IT LORD!