Harden Not Your Heart

We can't control others, yet often times we are so concerned about others that we don't examine our own lives and our own heart which causes us to miss the meaning of the scriptures. What I'm sharing right now is a short and simple invitation to look in the mirror, to examine our own heart, to assess our own standing before the Lord.

In Jacob 5:3-8, he teaches:
"3 And how blessed are they who have labored diligently in his vineyard (this should be all of us, the invitation is extended to us all to labor in his vineyard); and how cursed are they who shall be cast out into their own place! And the world shall be burned with fire.

 4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long (to you and I and anyone else who will come); and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people (who? Could this be you? What about me? Do we take offense at what others say if it doesn't align perfectly with our understanding? Are we open to be taught and repent quickly or is it more like trying to convince a mother hen to get off her eggs?) ; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

 5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you (How often do you and I sincerely pray, when we would "cry unto the Lord"? What does it mean to you and I to "repent" and "come with full purpose of heart"? What does it mean to "cleave"?. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.

 6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die? (This is the FOURTH time Jacob has talked about "hardening your heart", seriously look into your own heart, is it soft or hard? Could and does the Lord instruct you and I? If so, can he trust us to respond to and do what he asks us to do? Are we moldable like soft clay or are we more like hardened clay that breaks and becomes brittle when handled?

 7 For behold, after ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit, that ye must be hewn down and cast into the fire?

 8 Behold, will ye reject these words? Will ye reject the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the words which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him (Will we? It's so easy to apply this invitation and counsel to others, what if we apply it to ourselves? Where are we still following short of the glory of God? The question is how can you and I receive his words and stop rejecting them? Do we pick and choose the commandments or resist the feelings in our heart?; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit, and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been laid for you?

This is great counsel from Jacob, he asks important questions that we shouldn't be applying to others, but that we should be asking ourselves.

Nephi also saw our day and said something similar about those people who feel they can justify away their actions. As you read this, don't apply this teaching to anyone else but yourself, it changes the entire meaning, doesn't it?:

2 Nephi 28:7-9,  

"7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us (How many times have we heard this from both members of the Church and those outside the Church?).

 8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

 9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.

Let us not harden our hearts, but inwardly search our hearts and souls. Let us repent and cry unto the Lord that we may experience His joy and His rest. This life is the time to prepare and soften our hearts that we might learn to be firm in our testimony, yet gentle and meek.