Change Begins Today

Daily Devotional: Day 97

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years’” (Hebrews 3:7-9, NKJV).

Today’s Scripture reading is referencing Psalm 95:7-9.

During the forty years Israel walked with God in the desert, many of the people rebelled against God. The rebellion was primarily in the form of disobedience and lack of trust. Of course, if you can’t trust the Lord, you can’t walk with Him. Many Israelites perished in the desert because of their stubbornness and unbelief.

What everyone ought to realize is that God and His Word are inseparable. If you trust God, it means you trust the words that come out of His mouth. And the way you show that you trust His Words is by obeying His commandments. Think about it: Why would you obey someone you don’t trust? Or why would you disobey someone you trust? Trust and obedience, therefore, go hand in hand.

The biggest obstacle to God’s Word is hardness of heart. When the heart is hardened, a person always looks for an excuse to ignore the voice of God or to postpone his decision to obey God. Hardness of heart is a serious spiritual disease that can frustrate God and jeopardize one’s salvation. That is why in today’s passage, the Holy Spirit warns us as he did the Israelites, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts . . .”

One day, Saul, the first king of Israel, disobeyed the voice of God. In response, here is what the prophet Samuel said, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23). When God compares disobedience to witchcraft and idolatry, we need to pay attention.

Decide today: If you need to abandon a sinful lifestyle, the decision to do so is today, not tomorrow. Why repent tomorrow when you can repent today? If you need to start attending church, the decision is today, not tomorrow. If you need to trust in Jesus for salvation, today is your day. If you must start honoring your parents, the time is now.

Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day of change. Today is the day of decision. If you ignore God’s voice today, tomorrow may be too late. Train yourself through study of the Bible to hear God’s voice. And when you do hear His voice, take prompt action. God bless you. Amen.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank you for your Word today. Remove from my heart every resistance to you, and by your Holy Spirit, enable me to obey your voice. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. 

For further study: Hebrews 3:1-19