Unresponsive

Unresponsive is not a word you want to describe yourself. When I hear this word, I immediately think of an individual with a medical emergency who is not responding to communication or not reacting in a normal manner to something. Today’s verse talks about being unresponsive; however, in this instance, this isn’t being unresponsive to communication from a person or not reacting to a person. This verse mentions being unresponsive to God.

Hebrews says: “So search your hearts every day, my brothers and sisters, and make sure that none of you has evil or unbelief hiding within you. For it will lead you astray, and make you unresponsive to the living God” (3:12 TPT). The write of Hebrews notes that you can be lead astray and even become unresponsive to God. This is when you cannot hear God, perhaps when you say He is being silent. It doesn’t necessarily mean God is silent, but that you aren’t in a position to hear. This also can mean that you are unresponsive when it comes to your reactions. For example, the Holy Spirit may be pointing you in a specific direction or reminding you of what God’s Word says about something, and your reaction is to move in the other way or disregard what God’s Word says. Perhaps you will simply be indifferent.

The verse notes that we have a big part to play in all of this because we should be actively searching our hearts every single day. We need to be vigilant to ensure we are on the right path and living with a pure heart. What leads us astray and makes us unresponsive? Evil or unbelief or both. This isn’t something that can always be easily seen. The verse notes it hides within us. Pray and seek the Spirit’s wisdom to reveal these hidden things to you. What else can we do about this? How can we keep away from these things?

Unbelief is something we all have from time to time. Remember in Mark 9:24: “I believe; help my unbelief!” We have these same moments. When we have moments of doubt, when we have trouble believing, the best thing we can do is remind ourselves of how God has moved in the past. Take time to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness. Also, remind yourself of His promises. If you find yourself doubting, seek Him in prayer. Be honest and share your struggles. Draw near to Him, leaning in closer to see His goodness and glory.

Removing the evil is another step that must be taken. As Ephesians 5 notes, we are not supposed to be taking part of evil acts but instead we should reveal them. James 4:7 says: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (ESV). Resist and he will flee. Ephesians 6:13 reminds us that to stand firm you must take up the whole armor of God. This is how we resist evil, and when we resist, the devil flees. When he realizes he can have no part of us, he moves along. This is why it’s important to put on our armor daily.

Today, search your heart. Tomorrow, search your heart. Every day, search your heart. It is too easy to slip toward being unresponsive. You may say it will never happen but it is sadly something that happens to many people each day. For whatever reason, people pull away, get busy, disregard the most important, focus elsewhere, etc. Daily we must make the heart check. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10 ESV). Amen!