But this command I gave them: “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.” But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward (Jeremiah 7:23-24).

Does this sound like someone you know? Does it remind you of yourself? Does our country come to mind as you read this? Some things have not changed since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Everyone has a natural inclination to follow their fleshly desires instead of surrendering to a holy God. Unfortunately, many still ignore His commands on a daily basis. As Rich Mullins admitted, “Surrender don’t come natural to me. I’d rather fight You for something I don’t really want than to take what You give that I need.”* Without the Holy Spirit, this is where we would all be.

“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” These words from Dietrich Bonhoeffer remind us that God did not save us for our own personal grafication. We are to die to our selfish desires and learn what He desires of us.

Therefore as the Holy Spririt says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness” (Hebrews 3:7-8).

Instead, let your response be as young Samuel’s: “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10).

*From Hold Me, Jesus written and performed by Rich Mullins.