Is Your Heart Hard?

 I have been reading my Bible in the book of Exodus for the last few days. As I was reading a couple days ago, an interesting thought came to me. I had just finished reading about all the plagues God had put on Egypt because Pharaoh would not let God's people go. I thought to myself, wow, it sure took a lot of persuasion to change Pharaoh's mind before he let Israel go. At the first visit, and after God removed each plague, he hardened his heart. After going through the plagues of all their water turned to blood, frogs, and flies, Pharaoh agrees to let them go and sacrifice but only in the land of Egypt. But Moses told Pharaoh that, that's not what God wanted and after the flies were gone, he hardened his heart and wouldn't let God's people go. After going through three more plagues, all the animals dying, the boils, and dangerous hail and fire along the ground, Pharaoh tells Moses if he asks God to get rid of the hail, he will let the people go. But when it's gone, he once again his heart was hardened. Moses warns Pharaoh of the coming plague of locusts if he still refuses to let Israel go. Pharaoh agrees but changes the conditions. Since he won't let them go according to God's conditions, the locusts come. After going through that plague and the plague of three days of thick darkness, Pharaoh agrees to let the people go but they have to leave the cattle behind. But Moses makes it clear that they have to take their cattle with them. And so, one final plague comes upon Egypt. Those who did not put the blood of a lamb on their lintel and doorposts, would lose their firstborn. Pharaoh's firstborn child died that night. It took the destruction of the land of Egypt, their animals, their health and finally the firstborn of every family that didn't put the blood around their door to get Pharaoh to agree to God's conditions and let his people go.

I was thinking of how this applies to us today. Is there something in your life God is telling you to do, or to let go of? Whether it be witnessing to someone, passing out tracts, doing something kind for someone, meeting someone's need. Or letting go of something that you like but is harming your walk with God and not helping. Maybe a favorite movie or TV show, book,  music etc. Maybe it's bitterness, jealousy, envy, pride, anger, etc. My questions to you and to myself are, how long will we wait and what will it take to do not only as God asks, but also under His conditions? Is what you're hanging on to really worth what you would have to go through to keep it?

There is a chorus of a song that I think puts it very well:

"For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. To hold His hand to walk his narrow way. There is no peace, no joy, no thrill, like walking in his will. For me to live is Christ, to die is gain."

You will be far happier letting go of what God wants you to and doing what God wants you to. I have found there truly is no peace, no joy, no thrill, like walking in His will. 

Keep serving Christ no matter what!

Love in Christ,

Ruthie


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