Spiritual Arthritis

He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God's name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD, the God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 36:13

Recently, a very dear friend confided in me a conversation she had with her husband. He had accused her of being hard hearted because she would not agree with him on a serious matter. Knowing his wife is committed to the Lord, her husband (he does not know the Lord) uses scripture to try to persuade his side of the argument. When you just read the bible as a "history book" and try to use it for ammunition and manipulation, it seems blasphemous to me. That sacred word is the living word of God meant for leading to an eternal life and instruction for an abundant life here on earth.

Well, now that I have vented, let's get to what the Lord led me to study this morning--hardness of heart--just what did Jesus mean when he referred to people with a hard heart.

Mark 16:14 NKJV Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

The Strong's Concordance defines that hardness of heart as destitution of spiritual perception.

In the Amplified Bible John 12:40 Jesus said, "He has blinded their eyes and hardened and benumbed their [callous, degenerated] hearts [He has made their minds dull], to keep them from seeing with their eyes and understanding with their hearts and minds and repenting and turning to Me to heal them."

Acts 7:51 Amp 51You stubborn and stiff-necked people, still heathen and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. As your forefathers [were], so you [are and so you do]!

The Strong's Concordance defines stiff-necked as obstinate. The Wycliffe Bible Dictionary explains it as: "It is derived apparently from the idea of a rebellious and stubborn ox which refused to receive the yoke. When used metaphorically, the expression conveys the idea of stubbornness or obstinacy along with arrogance, and is associated with unbelief in God and rejection of His revealed will." Which reminded me of Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. When two ox are yoked together, if they work together, it eases the pull of the load. If one resists, it makes their task much harder or even impossible.

Back to my friend. The accusation of hardheartedness drove her to seek the Lord, read the word, and seek counsel of a fellow Christian. What do you think? Is that a hard heart or a soft heart? I guess you would have to know the whole story and I can't divulge that.

When someone, even a heathen, challenges you in an area of your life, do you arrogantly proclaim you know Jesus so that can't be true (and please don't quote Matthew 7:4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?) or do you seek Him in prayer, search His word and seek Godly counsel. He is our Father and because He loves us, He will correct us if there is a need. He may just tweak us a little or drive our faces to the floor in repentance but He loves us with an everlasting love--for this we can count on in any situation. He is perfecting us daily if we are seeking His counsel.

What did I tell her? Keep seeking the LORD for He is your strength in any situation. We prayed and I continue to pray for her and her family. Whatever happens, I am sure God will work it for His good for she loves Him with all her heart.

The biggest obstacle in their relationship is that they are unequally yoked. I pray her husband surender's his life to Christ and then He can heal him. Let's all pray for the unsaved and those Christians who are not seeking God whole heartedly in how to love one another and be godly husbands, wives, parents and obedient children. We all could use improvement in our relationships with family, friends, coworkers and anyone God places in our path--especially when dealing with the unlovely.

As for me, I am asking if spiritual arthritis manifests as physical arthritis. If so, God show me where I am missing it. I repent of any hardness of heart, stubborness, obstinance, arrogance, pride, judgement or unbelief. Father I know you love me and because you do, if there is any area of my life that needs change, show me right now and cleanse me of anything not of You. Perfect me Lord. Mold me in Your image. Give me a deeper compassion for your people Lord. I want to decrease self and increase my relationship with You Lord and with your people. In Jesus' name I pray. AMEN.



Other Scriptures on Hardnes of Heart:

Daniel 5:20
But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.

Zechariah 7:12
They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.

Matthew 13:15
For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'

Ephesians 4:18
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

Hebrews 3:8
do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert,

Hebrews 4:7
Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."