Dec 13 2008
When Seed Falls on Hard Ground…
Remember the parable of the seed and the sower? Matthew speaks at length on this subject in chapter 13. As much as we may hate to believe it, as Christians, our hearts can be hard as a rock when it comes to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and the sad thing is we may not even know it. Scripture says that there will be many who do great things in His name, to whom He will say in the end, “Depart from Me. I never knew you.” They may be able to pray powerfully, prophecy, and even do miracles, like raising the dead or healing the sick, and still be outside the family of God when it’s all said and done.
Besides God, I’m the only one who really knows whether my heart is hard with hidden sin or tender to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
I believe it’s going to take a powerful and intimate relationship with God to survive the times that will soon be upon us. So now is the time to examine our hearts and make sure we have no hidden sin, no ground that legally belongs to Satan by default.
Oh, yes that is exactly what happens. When we know we’re in sin and refuse to deal with it, we are selling a piece of our souls to the devil, giving him ownership as in a legal agreement, essentially spitting in the face of our crucified Lord. Little sins, big sins–any sin that we hold onto becomes a stumblingblock, that if unconfessed, can separate us from God forever.
May it never be that I should take lightly the terrible price He paid for my redemption, and I pray for my brothers and sisters, that their eyes would be opened to see through excuses and hidden sin, to grasp that the cost of holding onto secret things will be eternal death.
I pray that we may all be found that holy bride, wearing garments of pure white, unsullied by the stains of the world. Let me, Lord, be a reflection of Your love and tender heart, and may I never grow tired of Your correction. Let me love You with everything that is in me, and train my heart to hear Your voice so that when You tell me to turn around and go the other way, I’m eager to obey.
And more than anything, let me hold loosely to the things of earth and say, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!”
Because of His great love,
Nancy
