I Do, but Do I? - Part 6 [Notes]

The institution of marriage seems to be falling out of favor in our culture today. With the high divorce rate and the prevalence of unhappy marriages, many wonder, “Why bother?” No marriage will be perfect, but understanding God’s design for marriage and the Biblical keys needed to make it work can make all the difference.  

Join us for “I Do, but Do I?,” a series about marriage that of us can benefit from because the qualities needed to make a strong marriage are  the same ones needed to develop good relationships in general.

Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.
– Ephesians 4:17-19 (HCSB)

A callus is a hard, thickened area of skin that develops usually from friction or irritation over time. Such a hardened area often leaves one less sensitive to the touch…
– Merriam-Webster

Hard-hearted: having or showing no kindness or sympathy for other people
– Britannica Dictionary

Don’t allow your heart to become hard. 

Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds?” “Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that He who created them in the beginning made them male and female,” and He also said: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” “Why then,” they asked Him, “did Moses command us to give divorce papers and to send her away?” He told them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts. But it was not like that from the beginning. And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” His disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of a man with his wife is like this, it’s better not to marry!”
– Matthew 19:3-10 (HCSB)

He told them, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts. But it was not like that from the beginning."
– Matthew 19:8 (HCSB)

"But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’ “At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'"
– Matthew 18:28-29 (HCSB)

"So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart.”
– Matthew 18:35 (HCSB)

2. We refuse to show concern, kindness, or compassion to others.

If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him enough for whatever need he has.
– Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (HCSB)

After looking around at them with anger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts, He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
– Mark 3:5 (HCSB)

3. We refuse to listen and learn from others.

But the house of Israel will not want to listen to you because they do not want to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hardheaded and hardhearted.
– Ezekiel 3:7 (HCSB)

The arrogant have smeared me with lies, but I obey Your precepts with all my heart. Their hearts are hard and insensitive, but I delight in Your instruction.
– Psalm 119:69-70 (HCSB)

4. We refuse to repent of something we know is wrong.

Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. “I have sinned this time,” he said to them. “Yahweh is the Righteous One, and I and my people are the guilty ones. Make an appeal to Yahweh. There has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t need to stay any longer.”
– Exodus 9:27-28 (HCSB)

When Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his officials. So Pharaoh’s heart hardened, and he did not let the Israelites go, as the Lord had said through Moses.
– Exodus 9:34-35 (HCSB)

5. We refuse to be open with others. 

We have spoken openly to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections. I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us.  
– 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (HCSB)

While our hearts are enlarged in love for you, it is very different with you, in respect to us.
– J.P. Lange

Isn't He Good // Where I'm Standing Now // Holy Forever // All Hail King Jesus

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