INTRODUCTION

Rebels are often known as loners, but from what things do they like to keep their distance? Many who would be identified by these terms do not disassociate from sin or sinners. Instead, they disassociate from truth and righteousness. Righteous thoughts and words melt the hard heart. They penetrate the rocky soil and begin to break down pride and rebellion. In order for a rebel to remain in his rebellion, he must fight to keep his distance from the truth. The very concepts of righteousness and rebellion are enemies that refuse to coexist. Hence the battle, as the Lord works to draw man’s attention to righteousness, the Devil fights to keep man’s distance from it.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) The children of Israel kept refusing to hear the truth (Jeremiah 7:23-29 [23] But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. [24] But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. [25] Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: [26] Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. [27] Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. [28] But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. [29] Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.
  See All...). Many people today are doing the same thing (2 Timothy 4:2-4 [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
  See All...).
• Why does the Devil work hard to keep you blind to the true condition of your heart? What can begin to happen when you get a glimpse of the wickedness of your heart?
• How does righteousness and truth change your heart? What happens as you begin to distance yourself from these things? What happens to your heart (see Isaiah 46:12Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
  See All...)?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank the Lord for bringing these things to your attention.
• Ask the Lord to show you the condition of your heart.

HYMN

Near to the Heart of God

LTB DEVOTIONS ON FACEBOOK

Receive the daily devotions on your facebook wall by clicking "Like" on http://www.facebook.com/kingjamesbibledailydevotions.