Thought for the Day

Verses 24-27 - These verses are a serious warning to all who hate God's wisdom or refuse to yield to Him. God is very loving and compassionate; however, if we continually reject Him and His Word, we can reach a point where He will finally leave us alone. This is a frightening thought, of which the New Testament also warns us: "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion (of Israel) and their provocation and embitterment (of Me) in the day of testing in the wilderness, Where your fathers tried (My patience) and tested (My forbearance) and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years. And so I was provoked (displeased and sorely grieved) with that generation, and said, They always err and are led astray in their hearts, and they have not perceived or recognized My ways and become progressively better and more experimentally and intimately acquainted with them. Accordingly I swore in My wrath and indignation, They shall not enter into My rest. (Therefore beware,) brethren; take care lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart - which refuses to cleave to, trust in and rely on Him - leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God" (Hebrews 3:7-12, AMP).

Verses 28-33 - The Lord makes it very clear that the following sins can bring us to the place where He will not answer us: failing to answer when He calls, failing to listen to His counsel, despising His correction and instruction, showing no fear of Him, backsliding from Him, and making prosperity one's primary goal. By doing these things, we sow rebellion, which will produce the fruit of destruction – and there will come a time when we will reap what we have sown (Galatians 6:6-7). With our own way comes bitter fruit. God promises that if we obey Him we shall dwell in safety. He wishes to bless us, but the choice is ours.