Hard Hearts

We've all heard the phrase "hard heart" in our comings and goings.

It tends to have a variety of meanings as well. From being without compassion, to being angry, to being unyielding, to even just being mean.

But I have a saying that makes me think about things from a different, even opposite angle.

The absence of something, tells you something

Sooo... Have you ever met a Christian who doesn’t have patience for people? Patience for people struggling with drugs, porn, abusive relationships, lying, cheating, bad relationships over and over and over, coveting, idolatry, or whatever else is out there that we humans struggle with?

When you stop and think, step back and think. What does that reveal about them? That they have no patience for people struggling, no patience for people in the thick of their messes, no patience... for normal human life, in... other people's lives.

Of course we can say they have hard hearts. It's a safe label to place on someone who has no patience for anyone but themselves.

But it's that "for anyone but themselves" that is interesting. Because... what about them? Why do they have patience for themselves, but not others.

Have we ever considered that people with hard hearts are that way because they are losing all THEIR battles?

Or perhaps they have forgotten what it takes to climb out of your own personal hell in life. So they don't have patience with anyone, while they ride high on life for getting out of their own messes?

At the end of the day, it's not really that important. We all have our own lives to straighten out. Our own battles to win.

But something to consider.

They are the hard soil Jesus talks about...