Thursday, 8th July 2021 :: God gives His people new hearts
Text: Ezekiel 36:22-38
Ezekiel writes to God’s people in their exile. In the passage just before today’s reading, Yahweh reminds His people that they profaned His name. They had abandoned worship of Yahweh and worshipped false gods. So, He cast them out of the land and dispersed them among the nations. We might expect Him to destroy them, perhaps build a new nation (Ex.32:10).
Instead, He promises to bring them back to the land, to Himself, and cleanse them (a connection to baptism, v.25). Yahweh promises to remove their [spiritual] heart of stone and give them a new heart, a heart that will love and serve God only.
The promise of God to give them a new heart means total transformation, because all the issues of life flow from the heart (Prov.4:23; Luk.6:45).
That promise is fulfilled by the work of Jesus Christ. Because of what Jesus did for us, God will then bring us out of spiritual death, back to Himself, and make us into new creatures (2 Cor.5:17). For now, our bodies are the same (new bodies eventually, 1 Cor 15:49-54), but we are new spiritually, toward God. As new creations, we are given desire and ability to live transformed lives, lives that are pleasing to God. Do you have that desire to honour God in your life? If not, confess your sins, ask
God for His forgiveness, and He will give you a transformed heart to love and obey the Lord with a grateful heart of love.
Meditate on verse 26. How are you going to respond to it?
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, give me the soft heart to receive Your Word. Amen.
