In Passionate Pursuit

Well, it's been a while since I wrote a piece for my blog. I appreciate those of you that continued to visit the page and read my posts while I was not writing; I only had 100 pagesviews less than a normal month with multiple posts. So, thanks and I hope to write more regularly in the month of June.

Today, I want to take a look at a warning from the past that applies well to today, so look at Hebrews 3:7-14 with me:

"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
and saw My works 10 for 40 years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation
and said, “They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known My ways.” So I swore in My anger,
“They will not enter My rest.” " -Hebrews 3:7-11, HCSB

This passage starts with a quote from Psalm 95:7-11, which talks about the failures of the Israelities in the desert (which you can read more of in the books of Leviticus and Numbers). We read that the Israelities hardened their hearts and turned away from God when they were in the desert, and so God didn't allow them to enter "the rest," which they were supposedly going to be able to receive once they made it to the promised land of Canaan.

So, how does is apply to us? Check out the next verses:

"Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. For we have become companions of the Messiah if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start." -Hebrews 3:12-14, HCSB

Christians, we must guard ourselves from this! We have to stay away from an evil heart that turns away from God. How do we do that? Two things:

1. Encourage each other. Encouraging fellow Christians, and being encouraged yourself, is a great way to keep yourself headed toward God. It's always easier to stay on target when ther people are helping you do so.

2. Hold firmly to God. Passionately follow after God, always looking to draw nearer to Him. Read His Word, pray and do His work.

Both of these things will help us to keep Him in our sights. The question is: will you harden your heart, turning away from God, or will you passionately pursue Him?