Daily Devotions: October 17, 2014

Today’s Bible reading is Hebrews chapter 3

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

In chapter two the book of Hebrews warns us about the danger of drifting away, but in chapter three it warns us about the danger of turning away. Verse 12 says, “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.” (NLT) The children of Israel went all the way to the borders of Canaan, but refused to obey God and enter the land. After refusing to believe God, a group of Israelites tried to go into the land but they were defeated. The Bible illustrates that delayed obedience is disobedience. Some people think they can be saved anytime they want to, but that isn’t true. Isaiah taught us to, “Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.” The Bible says we must hear and obey God’s voice “Today.” Nowhere in the Bible does it instruct us to be saved “Tomorrow.” If we don’t trust Christ “today” we may never trust Christ at all, because we may not have another “today.” Also, if we don’t trust Christ “today” we may never trust Christ at all, because our hearts could become hard. Sin will harden your heart. The more often we reject God the easier it becomes until finally our hearts become hard. Visit with inmates in prison and you will meet many people whose heart’s have become hard because of life’s choices. If you do not trust Christ today, you may never trust Christ because you may not hear God’s voice again. God speaks to us through Scripture. One of the saddest moments in Scripture is when Jesus stopped speaking to Pilate. The text says, “Jesus answered him not a word.” The worse thing that could happen to us is for God to stop speaking, but hearing the Gospel isn’t enough, we must believe God and enter into Christ.

Prayer: “Lord, we come to You today hearing and believing and clinging to Christ. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron