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And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed.” Luke 2:34
D.L. MOODY
Do you know that the gospel of Jesus Christ proves either a fragrance of life unto life or of death unto death? You sometimes hear people say: “We will go and hear this man preach. If it does us no good, it will do us no harm.” Don’t you believe it! Every time one hears the gospel and rejects it, the hardening process goes on. The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay. The sermon that would have moved to action a few years ago makes no impression now.
There is not a true minister of the gospel who will not say that the hardest people to reach are those who have been impressed and whose impressions have worn away. It is a good deal easier to commit a sin the second time than it was to commit it the first time, but it is a good deal harder to repent the second time than the first.
ERWIN LUTZER
Have you ever wondered why a person can listen to hundreds of sermons and not believe on Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins? In the Parable of the Sower, some seed fell on the path and did not penetrate the soil. Perhaps this path had been trampled by people (see Mark 8:1–8). And there is no heart as hard as those who are rebelling against other Christians who have trampled on them. Also, many others feel very comfortable with their sins and with themselves, and so, in the midst of this comfort, they don’t want to change; they don’t want to have God break into their lives. And every time they reject the Word, the harder their heart becomes.
We are responsible for carefully sowing the seed; how people respond is out of our control. Let us trust God to determine the results (1 Cor. 3:6).
PRAYER
Father, soften the hearts of those who hear your gospel and make me your messenger.REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Who ultimately makes the seed grow, and how is this done?
How should you minister to someone whose heart is hardened?