Gospel Reflections #239: Breaking our Sinful Hearts with True Love

Genesis 49:17 "'Dan is a serpent by the wayside/ A pit viper lurking by the path. When he bites the horse's heel/the rider falls on his back."

"As Jacob's sons gathered on Jacob's deathbed, waiting to receive the final blessing, the inspiration of the Lord came upon Jacob, and in a prophetic vision the future of his descendants was revealed. One after another the names of his sons were given, their individual natures described, and the future history of the tribe briefly prophesied," writes Ellen G. White.

This prophecy included both the good and the bad.

We like to hear things. And when we are told bad things about our own future, we tend to take it as if we are being denied or sheltered and refuse to accept the content honestly.

I believe that Jacob wanted his sons to have one thing to notice, to think about it carefully, and to use it to help them make choices for their future.

For us, a grating word may be something that shatters our pride or gives us an opportunity to look at our own weaknesses.

It is also our pride that reacts to our immediate emotional reaction to the grating.

We can't all accept the unpleasant part right away, but when our emotions are shaken, that's when we get the "hammer of God's love".

Sometimes, we need a smack on the head from God to realize some things.

When our hearts are shaken by something that grates on our ears is when God shatters the Tower of Babel in our hearts with "the hammer of God's love".

It is also the hammer of love with which God surrounds us with His love.

Let us ask God to break our stubborn hearts and immerse us in His love.

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This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, a devoted student of the Bible who passionately embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on the Gospels as a way to reach out to others and spread the message of Jesus. We're sharing her message here so that you too can experience the joy that comes from the Gospel that has filled her heart.