July 30 — "Hearing, But Not Listening"

Today's Reading: Acts 28

A soft, tender heart is one of the most priceless spiritual treasures a person can possess. It reflects humility, trust, and a deep, abiding love for God. Like freshly tilled soil, a softened heart welcomes the Word—it doesn’t repel it, choke it out, or let it blow away. Instead, it receives truth, clings to it, and blossoms with fruit. A heart like this is teachable, eager to grow, and open to change.

In essence, a tender heart unlocks deeper intimacy with God, leads to wiser decisions, nurtures healthier relationships, bears lasting fruit, and renews the soul day after day.

But here’s the kicker—when our hearts grow dull, our spiritual “ears” stop hearing and our spiritual “eyes” stop seeing. The result? Spiritual stagnation. Acts 28:27 delivers a sobering truth: the Gospel can be boldly preached and still rejected—not due to confusion, but because people simply refuse to respond. God longs to heal, but He won’t bulldoze a will that won’t yield.

Paul, quoting Isaiah, explains why many Jewish listeners resisted his message about Jesus: “For this people's heart has grown dull...” It wasn’t a lack of comprehension. It was a crusty, calloused heart. They’d heard the truth again and again but had built up spiritual scar tissue through repeated resistance. And that’s the warning—when we continually brush off God’s voice, we risk developing spiritual deafness. What was once a soft heart can turn hard with pride, fear, or distraction.

Let’s be real—none of us are immune. Think of all the times we’ve sat through a sermon, skimmed a verse, felt the Holy Spirit tug at our hearts... and shrugged it off. Every dismissal nudges the heart toward dullness—one hardened layer at a time. But the reverse is gloriously true: every time we respond, the Spirit softens and shapes us anew.

So don’t let your heart grow crusty. Today, if you hear His voice, respond to Him. Ask the Lord to open your eyes, unstop your ears, and tenderize your heart. Let the Holy Spirit reignite your love for His Word, presence, and path. Keep your heart soft through daily surrender, frequent repentance, and a joyful, radical trust.

May the Lord bless you with a heart that pulses in perfect sync with His. May your ears perk up at His whisper, your eyes spot His wonders, and your feet run after His lead. And may He protect you from spiritual callouses by covering you—again and again—in His truth and love.