calloused hearts

God asks us to be tender-hearted, and particularly toward one another in the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:32). This is essential, especially in these days, when it is so possible for us to become hardened in heart, as it was for Jesus' first disciples when He asked them, "are your hearts hardened?"  At the very least, therefore, in response to Jesus' question, it'd be a good idea for us to do a heart exam, asking ourselves whether our hearts have been hardened by all of the cynicism, criticism, and complaint that is all around us, and even among us.

But it's interesting to know that Jesus also spoke about "calloused" hearts, brought about due to people being hard of hearing and closing their eyes (Matthew 13:15).  What might this have meant?  Becoming deaf to God's Word and closing the eyes of our heart to God results in a callous heart.  Why?  Because, more than likely, our ears have been deafened with the loud voices of others who drown out the still, small Word of God, and our hearts' eyes have become opened to many other distractions and closed to His Presence  The result is that our hearts get beat up so often by all the noise and visuals that we develop heart calluses, a form of heart-hardening from over-stimulation.  And with all the shouting voices and shining objects in our day, amplified in media, calloused hearts are very common.

So in addition to doing a self-diagnosis of our hearts, perhaps we also need to follow God's prescription for tenderizing any alloused hearts, given by the Psalmist who said, My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too much for me.  But I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.  Put your hope in the Lord, both now and forevermore. (Psalm 131).