And what does it mean to get hardened?
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be HARDENED through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; While it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Hebrews 3:12-15
The wonderful influence of the Spirit of Christ produces softness of heart.
The influence of sin produces hardness of heart.
What is softness? It is to CARE. Softness denotes SENSITIVITY.
Hardness denotes not to care, INSENSITIVITY. Just like hardened, calloused hands and feet lose their sensitivity to pain.
To care about what? To care about what Jesus cares about, and to care for whom He cares for. To care about the issues He cares about.
Sensitivity to Jesus Christ, thru UNION with Him, by the Spirit.
...Lest any of you be HARDENED through the deceitfulness of sin… Lest any of you become insensitive to Jesus Christ, the glorious LORD of Glory, and insensitive to His commands. Lest you no longer care about your brothers and sisters, whether they are walking in the LIGHT with Jesus or not… Lest you only care about yourself.
Softness of heart toward Jesus Christ always results in practical caring for His people. Hardness of heart always results in, “I don’t care.. I only care about my own needs..”.
Ian Vincent 
June 27, 2012 at 1:33 am
Proverbs 29:7 The good-hearted understand what it’s like to be poor; the **hard-hearted** haven’t the faintest idea!
Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, who, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be weighed down with carousing, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares
June 27, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Thanks for the encouragement and exhortation. I needed that!