Today If You Hear God's Voice, Do Not Harden Your Heart

There was once this commander of the army of Syria, Naaman.  He was a very good commander, and he was held in great favor and high esteem.  However, he had leprosy or Hansen's disease.  Hansen's disease is a chronic, curable, infectious disease.  It mainly causes skin lesions and nerve damage.  However, in Naaman's day, there was no cure for leprosy and Naaman had no hope of ever being healed.  Bands of raiders from Syria or Aram, as it was called, captured a young girl from Israel and she served Naaman's wife as her maid servant.  The Israelite slave girl knew of the miraculous power of the God of Israel, so she told her mistress about Elisha, God's Prophet.  The story is found in 2 Kings 5:1-14.

At first Naaman refused to believe and obey God's Word and His instructions given through the prophet Elisha.  He was offended at God's Word.  Yes, he had leprosy and he wanted to be healed, however, at first, he hardened his heart.  His pride and unbelief almost prevented him from receiving his miraculous, healing and deliverance.  God used his servants to speak some sense into him.  Naaman then humbled himself and obeyed God's Word and instructions.  He dipped himself in the Jordan River seven times as Elisha had instructed him to do.  The Scriptures say his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.  Obedience always brings the blessings.  Today, if you hear God's voice, do no harden your heart.

All of us human beings were born in a sinful, spiritual condition that requires a spiritual cleansing, just like Naaman.  God has given us specific instructions in His Word on how to be cleansed from our sins and receive His nature.  Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."  Naaman most likely contracted his leprous condition by breathing in the droplets containing the bacteria that causes leprosy, however we all contracted our sinful nature from our parents Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve sinned against God and passed on their sinful condition to us.  However, God our Heavenly Father made a way for us to be cleansed of our spiritual condition.  Just like how God told Naaman to go dip in the Jordan seven times to get healed, He has given us specific instructions on how to get rid of our sins and be healed.

In John 3, God tells us that we must be born again or born from above or of the Holy Spirit in order to enter the Kingdom of God.  When we get born from above, we are cleansed of our sins, and we receive God's spiritual nature.  How do we get born again or born from above?  First, we have to acknowledge that we are sinners in need of the Savior.  The only Savior, the only person who can save us is Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One.  Jesus was the perfect lamb of God.  He never sinned and He sacrificed his life and His blood for us so that we can be cleansed from our sins.  1 Timothy 2:5 says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for people."   "Hebrews 9:22 says, "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness or remission of sins."  Acts 16:31 says, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, you and your household."  Romans 10:9-11 says, "If you declare with your mouth "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame."

These are the specific instructions that God has given to us in order for us to be cleansed from our sins and be reconciled to him.  First, we have to acknowledge that we are sinners in need of the Savior Jesus, believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord.  Just like how God gave Naaman the specific instructions to dip in the River Jordan 7 times to be cleansed, God has given us specific instructions on how to be cleansed of our sinful condition.  Today if you hear God's voice, do not harden your heart.

To receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and be cleansed of your sins, you can say this prayer, "Heavenly Father I repent of my sins.  I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and I believe that you raised him from the dead.  Please come into my heart and help me to live for you now and forevermore, in Jesus' name.  Amen."

If you said this prayer, welcome to the family of God.  You are now a new creation in Christ.  The old has gone and the new has come.  Let someone know that you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  You can email us at support@wearscriptures.com.  Ask your Heavenly Father to lead you to a church fellowship, where you can grow with the family of God.  Shalom.

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