There is a creepy story in the news this morning about 3,000 blackbirds falling out of the sky in Arkansas. Experts are trying to determine what killed the birds, creating a scene reminiscent of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. The initial speculation regarding the cause is something weather-related.
Hearing about the dead blackbirds reminded me of the Egyptian plagues, described in Exodus 7-11. Each of the plagues was designed to get Pharaoh’s attention so he would release the Israelites from slavery. This took time, and ten plagues, because Pharaoh kept hardening his heart.
The Bible speaks extensively about the condition of our heart. It is through our spiritual heart we communicate with God. Ezekiel compares our heart to stone or flesh. When we choose to follow Christ, part of our transformation includes a new heart. Ezekiel 26:36 (NLT) says, “And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart.”
Even with a new heart, there are times when we are slow to listen. What God has to do to get our attention depends on the condition of our heart. The desire to obey God, no matter what he is saying or where he is leading, will improve our hearing more than anything. There are times when we have selective hearing with God. We hear Him when he is telling us what we want to hear, and we tune him out at other times. You can choose to ignore the voice of God, but he loves you so much he WILL find a way to get your attention, so make way for the gnats, boils, locusts, etc.
Be encouraged by this message from God: (Isaiah 35:3-5 NLT) “With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. 4 Say to those who are afraid, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you." 5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf.”
No comments:
Post a Comment