Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

April 28– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“All in the house of Israel are strongheaded and hardhearted.” 

—Ezekiel 3:7

Are there no exceptions to this diagnosis? No, not one. Even the favored among Israel’s race wear this description. If the best among us are really this bad, how bad must be the worst? Come, my heart, and consider how much you share in this universal accusation; be ready to take shame unto yourself where you are guilty.

The first charge is strong-headedness— literally hardness of forehead, a lack of holy shame, an unholy boldness in evil. Before my conversion, I could sin and feel no regret, hear of my guilt and remain unhumbled, and even confess my sins and show no inward humiliation. Sadly, since the day of my new birth I have doubted my Lord to his face, murmured unblushingly in his presence, worshipped before him in a careless manner, and sinned without lamenting within my heart. If my forehead was not harder than stone, I would have far more holy fear and a far deeper contrition of spirit. I am guilty; I am one of the strongheaded in the house of Israel.

The second charge is hardheartedness, and I must not dare to plead innocent here either. Once I had nothing but a heart of stone, and, although through grace I now have a new and fleshy heart, much of my former stubbornness remains. I am not affected by the death of Jesus as I ought to be. I am not moved by the destruction of my fellow men, the wickedness of the times, the corrections of my heavenly Father as I should be. O that my heart would melt when remembering my Savior’s sufferings and death. Would to God I were rid of this heavy weight within me, this hateful body of death.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, for these diseases are curable. The Savior’s precious blood is the universal solvent, and it will effectively soften our minds and our hearts until they melt as wax before the fire. [M&E]