December 05, 2024
Daily Devotion:
"A Heart Transformed"
Ezekiel 36:26-27
New Living Translation
26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. [a] 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my
regulations.
Ezekiel was a prophet living in Jerusalem when the Babylonians attacked the city and took over. He was taken
off to Babylon with the first set of exiles.
While in Babylon, God gave Ezekiel a vision of what was happening in Jerusalem. He saw the people worshiping Babylonian idols at the temple! He sent them warnings to turn away, but the people didn't listen. Instead, he received news of the destruction of the temple. But God gave him hope. God would restore His people to their land, and they would worship Him once again. Their very hearts would be changed from hard stone to tender flesh (see Ezekiel 11:18-21). God took the initiative. He would purify and cleanse them. He repeated His promise to give them new hearts, which were responsive and obedient to Him. They would be able to see that they are His people and worship Him. It would also be a witness to the nations, so they could know the One True God. It is the same with us. God takes the initiative. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God transforms us not because we are good or deserve it, but because He loves us. He removes our hearts of stone
and gives us hearts of flesh. We are even more blessed than the people at the time of Ezekiel in that we have the Holy Spirit within us, leading, prompting, and guiding us. What an amazing gift!
We have the privilege of responding to His great love by honoring and praising Him with our lives. He has chosen
us, cleansed us, and given us new hearts filled with the Holy Spirit. Our lives are transformed, both now and forever.
