INTRODUCTION

The Bible admonishes believers to be stedfast and unmoveable (1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
See All...). We are to be grounded and settled (Colossians 1:23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
See All...) in the faith—much like a tree planted by the rivers of waters (Psalm 1:3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
See All...). Yet, today's passage points to the dangers of a hardened heart set in rebellion. It is likened to a stone and a millstone. We should remain stedfast in our commitment to serve the Lord, yet our hearts should remain tender and pliable to Him and His will. A stony heart hinders the seed of God’s word from taking root (Matthew 13:5-6 [5] Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: [6] And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
See All...). This hardness hinders the possibility of spiritual fruit from taking root and maturing. A soft heart and a stedfast walk exhibit the godly balance that God desires for each of us.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): There are many different kinds of stones. Some are more easily broken than others. The Bible tells us that God's people made their hearts like an adamant stone, an extremely hard or unbreakable one. They refused to hear God's law and the messages of His prophets. They only hurt themselves and for this reason God sent them into captivity (Zechariah 7:12-14 [12] Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. [13] Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts: [14] But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): Is your heart hard? Are you cold and indifferent toward the workings of God in your heart? Have you repented of your sins and asked the Lord to work in your heart?
• What are some of the effects you would expect to see from someone who has a hardened heart? Are those traits present in your life? Are you willing to seek the Lord's help in softening your heart?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to show you the true condition of your heart.
• Ask God to help you repent at the first indication of a hardening heart.

HYMN

Come, O Thou All Victorious Lord

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