18 September 2025
Scripture says, “What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened, as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day” (Romans 11:7–8). While the elect find life in Christ, the rest fall into blindness. Mark said, “And the rest were hardened. Here is a divine passive. They were hardened. By whom? The context is clear. God hardened their hearts.” This is not a light matter. Hardness is not neutrality. Hardness is God’s judgment.
Hardening begins with unbelief. Israel sought righteousness by works, not by faith. Mark reminded us, “They looked upon the glory of Christ in the gospel. And they saw no beauty. They saw a foolish story. They heard the call of Christ. And they heard only an echo.” Blindness. Deafness. A stupor of the soul. That is the danger of resisting God’s truth. The Spirit’s conviction is silenced when it is continually ignored. And neglect hardens into rebellion.
David’s words strike terror into the careless heart: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually” (Romans 11:9–10, CSB). Mark explained, “Behold the table. It represents every blessing. Prosperity. Fellowship. Covenant privilege. All the blessings of God upon His people. But for the hardened, these blessings are a curse.” The very gifts that should draw us near become the very snares that drag us down when we love the gifts more than the Giver.
Friend, this calls for urgency. Do not ignore the Spirit’s prompting. That sin He brings to mind, confess it today. That step of obedience He presses on your heart, take it now. Hardness grows slowly, like a frog in warming water. Mark warned, “That is how hardening works. Slowly being boiled alive in your sin and shame. Degree by degree. And you don’t even notice.” Do not let your heart grow numb. Respond before it is too late.
Help your children see that listening to God’s Word matters. Tell them plainly that ignoring it is how hearts grow hard. Show them by your own example what it means to tremble at His voice. Where might you be resisting God’s voice in your life right now? Pray that you may not be found among the hardened, but among the humble.
Prayer: Lord, keep my heart soft before You. Guard me from neglect. Break every hardness within me. Help me hear and obey Your voice today. Amen.
Read the sermon notes here.
Watch the sermon here.
This devotional content is not penned by the preacher. It is derived from the sermon notes. We aim to provide bite-sized reflections throughout the week for devotion and reflection.