“For this people’s heart is waxed
gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their yes they have closed; lest
at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with ears, and should
understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”—Matthew
13:15
In this scripture, the word waxed means to become inattentive, dull,
and callous. According to the Dakes
Annotated Reference Bible, “the idea conveyed is that the people have become
this way little by little, until they were past normal, vigorous obedience to
truth and righteousness.”
A person is not born with a dull or
calloused heart, nor do you suddenly become this way. It is a gradual condition that happens over a
prolonged period of time when your conscience is violated repeatedly, even in
the small things.
Guarding your conscience will keep
you sensitive to God and will stop your heart from becoming hardened. Staying sensitive to the Holy Spirit, even in
the small things, will increase your understanding and help you in your continuing
maturity in the Lord.
If you sin habitually and make no
effort to resist your flesh, your conscience becomes defiled and condemns
you. “Unto
the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is
nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled” (Titus 1:15). God never condemns you because you are His
child, and He loves you unconditionally; but your conscience will condemn
you. While you walk here on the earth, your
awareness of God’s love increases your confidence that will help you resist
temptation to sin, and keep a clear conscience and pure heart.
First John 3:21 says, “Beloved, if your heart condemn us not, then
have we confidence toward God.” Today
be persuaded that God loves you no matter what!
Then you will have confidence to move forward in the life that He has
for you overcoming sin and succeeding in every area of your life.
Prayer—Father
I repent of becoming dull of hearing and I thank you for helping me to keep a
pure and clean conscience in every area of my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.
