RTW 2024

But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.

John 12:37

“He does not mean that the blinding takes place without the will or against the will of these people. So, with the hardening of their heart. These men chose evil. It was their own deliberate choice, their own fault.” - Leon Morris

The hardening of heart, the blinding of my eyes, and the deafening of my ears is my choice.

• The world’s pace is instant.
• Forgiveness is difficult.
• Man’s praise is satisfying.
• Living our own way is non-confrontational. 

God does the miraculous every day, and everywhere. Yet, the world is enticing, people are difficult, life is hard, and our sight blurs, our hearing dulls, and our heart hardens. 

We allow this to happen because it’s easier to: 

• Stuff it down, rather than deal with it directly. 
• Move on our way, rather than wait on His will.
• Celebrate our success, rather share it with Him, or others.
• Believe what the world says, rather than have faith in the unseen and unknown.
• Sacrifice the future in the immediate, rather than rest in hope of the eternal.

I fall short every day, and I can’t imagine, nor do I want to know what I’ve missed because of my stubbornness and selfishness. However, in the same breath I can say, I can’t imagine not: 

• Hearing from Him
• Seeing Him
• Knowing Him

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

So, God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So, they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires.

Romans 1:21-26

Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.
Matthew 21:17

I wonder if Jesus stayed with Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

Oh Lord, help me choose You, rather than myself.