Photo by Charles F. Stanley.

Daily Devotion

The Danger of a Hardening Heart

We can miss God's voice if our heart isn't prepared to hear Him.

February 18, 2020

Hebrews 3:7-19

God speaks to all of us, but how we respond depends on the condition of our heart. Upon hearing the Lord’s voice, some believers are motivated to pursue a deeper and more obedient relationship with their Father. Others, however, resist or refuse Him because their heart has become less responsive.

A change in receptiveness may be difficult to recognize because it happens slowly and is often rationalized or excused. How do you respond when the Holy Spirit speaks to you through Scripture or some other means? Carefully consider the following characteristics of a developing callousness:

Insensitivity to what God says
Resistance to His authority
Disobedience to what the Lord is instructing you to do
Justification of sinful conduct
Rejection of reproof by others
Preoccupation with worldly things
Little interest in spiritual matters
Absence of private devotion (Bible reading and prayer)
Avoidance of gathering to worship with other believers

If you’ve discovered any of the above traits in your life, it’s not too late. Ask the Lord to mold your heart (Isa. 64:8; Jer. 24:7). Remember, He specializes in making all things new (2 Corinthians 5:17) and delights in our turning to Him.

Bible in One Year: Numbers 28-30

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

``Command the sons of Israel and say to them, `You shall be careful to present My offering, My food for My offerings by fire, of a soothing aroma to Me, at their appointed time.'

``You shall say to them, `This is the offering by fire which you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs one year old without defect as a continual burnt offering every day.

`You shall offer the one lamb in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight;

also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil.

`It is a continual burnt offering which was ordained in Mount Sinai as a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

`Then the drink offering with it shall be a fourth of a hin for each lamb, in the holy place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the LORD.

`The other lamb you shall offer at twilight; as the grain offering of the morning and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to the LORD.

`Then on the sabbath day two male lambs one year old without defect, and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and its drink offering:

` This is the burnt offering of every sabbath in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.

`Then at the beginning of each of your months you shall present a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls and one ram, seven male lambs one year old without defect;

and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for the one ram;

and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering for each lamb, for a burnt offering of a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

`Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull and a third of a hin for the ram and a fourth of a hin for a lamb; this is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year.

`And one male goat for a sin offering to the LORD; it shall be offered with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering.

`Then on the fourteenth day of the first month shall be the LORD'S Passover.

`On the fifteenth day of this month shall be a feast, unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days.

`On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.

`You shall present an offering by fire, a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls and one ram and seven male lambs one year old, having them without defect.

`For their grain offering, you shall offer fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for a bull and two-tenths for the ram.

`A tenth of an ephah you shall offer for each of the seven lambs;

and one male goat for a sin offering to make atonement for you.

`You shall present these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.

`After this manner you shall present daily, for seven days, the food of the offering by fire, of a soothing aroma to the LORD; it shall be presented with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering.

`On the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.

`Also on the day of the first fruits, when you present a new grain offering to the LORD in your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.

`You shall offer a burnt offering for a soothing aroma to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs one year old;

and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram,

a tenth for each of the seven lambs;

also one male goat to make atonement for you.

`Besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall present them with their drink offerings. They shall be without defect.

`Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

`You shall offer a burnt offering as a soothing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old without defect;

also their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram,

and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs.

` Offer one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you,

besides the burnt offering of the new moon and its grain offering, and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

`Then on the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall humble yourselves; you shall not do any work.

`You shall present a burnt offering to the LORD as a soothing aroma: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs one year old, having them without defect;

and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram,

a tenth for each of the seven lambs;

one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

`Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days.

`You shall present a burnt offering, an offering by fire as a soothing aroma to the LORD: thirteen bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old, which are without defect;

and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each of the two rams,

and a tenth for each of the fourteen lambs;

and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering.

`Then on the second day: twelve bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without defect;