Dear Church Family, What’s the hardest material you can think of? I think of statements like, “Hard as steel” or “Like a rock.” Diamonds are actually the hardest know material and the most scratch resistant, as well. I’ve been reading through Zechariah and was surprised to read about diamonds. In Zechariah 7, God recalls His pleas to the nation in former times for the people to repent and show true marks of faith. He explains in Zechariah 7:9-10, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” Did the people repent? Did they change their ways? We know the rest of the story. Zechariah 7:11-12 (ESV)
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. 12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts.
God tried speaking, but the people wouldn’t listen. They turned their shoulder, stopped their ears, and made their hearts hard. This is why they went through so much discipline and hardship in exile. They refused to listen to the Lord. This made me think of my response to God. When He speaks, do I turn my shoulder away from or towards Him? Do I stop up my ears or remove anything keeping me from hearing? Do I make my heart as hard as a diamond or soft and pliable in the Potter’s hands? What has God been speaking to you through His Word? Do you see His words as words of life or words of death? Do you see Him as a surgeon trying to save your life or a thief trying to steal your life? Even though His words are sometimes hard to hear, they are always right and always for our good. So much of our response to God’s Word is how we view Him. We must remember that He, as our Heavenly Father, is worlds better than any earthly father could ever be. Let us make our hearts soft to our Father instead of diamond-hard. Isaiah 1:18-20 (ESV)
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
–Pastor Dave
What’s Happening at Gospel Life:Youth Group: Join us this Sunday, October 20th, from 5-7 pm at the Bronleewes’ house. We’ll have dinner, games, worship, and continue our new study, “Treasure Hunt.”
Edgerton Ministry Presentation: You all are invited to the Edgertons’ house on Friday, November 8th at 7 pm. They would like to share with you about how they are sharing God’s Word with the people of Central Asia through social media. Upcoming Dates: Communion (Nov. 3rd), Elder Training (Nov. 12th) Life Groups: If you’re interested in joining a life group, we have several to choose from. You can check them out here:
https://gospellifebiblechurch.churchcenter.com/groups/small-groups Request Prayer: It’s important for us to be praying for each other as a church! If you ever need prayer, we would love to come alongside you. You can always turn in a prayer request on Sundays using the Connection Card, but you can also submit a prayer request online at any time:
https://gospellifebiblechurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/368653 | 
