Seize the Moment – Day 1333

 

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, November 10.

 

The child yells, “I’m not listening! You can’t make me!” Then taking a deep breath, she holds her breath and sticks her fingers in her ears. This is a classic picture of a stubborn child throwing a temper tantrum when they don’t want to do what is being asked of them. Adults do this, too, and while it’s not always as easy to spot, the result is often the same. Proverbs 29:1 warns about the dangerous outcome of being stubborn, “A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.” The expression to harden your neck means to be stubborn, unyielding, arrogant, and proud. When you stiffen or harden your neck, you are being rebellious and disobedient.

 

The biblical image of a stiff-necked person comes from the farm; it’s that of a stubborn domestic animal, such as oxen that would turn their shoulders away from the yoke and refuse to follow directions. God described Israel this way before the destruction of Jerusalem in Jeremiah 17:23, “Yet they did not listen or incline their ears, but stiffened their necks in order not to listen or take correction” (cf. Jeremiah 7:24-26; 19:15). When a person refuses to obey God, to heed His call to repent of sin and return to faithfulness, there are consequences. Paul taught us in Romans 6:23a, “the wages of sin is death.” If we continue in our stiff-necked ways, we will become broken beyond remedy, and it will not be God doing that to us; we do it to ourselves. But God… there is hope! Jesus came to rescue you from this certainty, but you must take your fingers out of your ears and listen.

 

Seize the moment and apply the wisdom of Proverbs 29: repent of your stubbornness; respond to Jesus’ invitation to learn from Him in His easy yoke, and you will find rest for your soul (Matthew 11:20-30).

 

God bless you!

 

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YOUTUBE:

If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.