Hebrews 3:7-11 NLT “That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear His voice,
8 Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness.
9 There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years.
10 So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’
11 So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”
Hello beloved family, I must be very honest. It can be very frustrating when people refuse to listen but only bark out their own viewpoint. People ask and come for advice or help, yet in the moment I speak, I do not exist. I do not exist because I am not agreeing with what they want to speak or want me to agree about.
Is that you? Because you are offended at me? Or because you have yet to understand kingdom principle to obey?
For example, Tylon’s parents get him out of jail on bail. Instead of thanking his mom, he complains to me about how she lets Viviana date an older guy. He is completely blind to the fact that he is heading his own way to be a felon who assaults and commits robbery. Is he better than his mom? What he is doing is what his mom has been doing. Then he goes to a self-pity party about how he got no one and no one to help him. “Hello? Why will you not listen to my instructions to come back a long time ago? Or my current instructions?”
This is not only Tylon but many of God’s people, including my church. Why is it so hard to just listen and do as you are told? I want you to think about why it is so hard for you to surrender and submit. Then I want you to think and meditate if you are really a surrendered person. A surrendered person is one who has been truly broken into submission and one who does not look and judge others, but knows they are a sinner and no better than the next person, no matter how horrible or terrible the next person may be.
“Today, when you hear His Voice.” From whom can you hear His voice? His voice comes from your pastors.
What does “Today” mean? It means original instructions.
It is very simple. You can do as you are told or allowed to choose your own “right and wrong,” and go the 40 years in the wilderness in circles.
Additional Comments:
Do you understand circles? You try one way and end up at the same starting point. Then you try again, and back you are pulled to the original starting point. Why?
The original instruction you disdained is ironically pulling you back to the starting point.
Repent so you can move beyond your starting point?!
Surrender your mind and stop listening to yourself – especially your self-pity!!
Can we stop feeling sorry for ourselves and in need of others to feel sorry for us? Human emotions will not bring you comfort
Where is Jesus in your self-pity? Cast out your self-pity for it is replacing Jesus!
Senior Pastor Steve Kim