JULY 15, 2015
Transformed
Hearts
Read:
Ezekiel
36:22-31
Above
all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.— Proverbs 4:23
During
the early 1970s in Ghana, a poster titled “The Heart of Man” appeared on walls
and public notice boards. In one picture, all kinds of reptiles—symbols of the
vile and despicable—filled the heart-shaped painting with the head of a very
unhappy man on top of it. In another image, the heart-shape was clean and
serene with the head of a contented man. The caption beneath the images read:
“What is the condition of your heart?”
In
Matthew 15:18-19, Jesus explained what pollutes a person. “The things that come
out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of
the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false
testimony, slander” (niv). That is the condition of a heart separated from God—the
situation ancient Israelites found themselves in when their sins forced them
into exile (Ezek. 36:23).
God’s
promise in Ezekiel 36:26 is beautiful: “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” (nlt; see also 11:19). God will take away our
stubborn hearts that have been corrupted by all kinds of evil and give to us a
clean heart that is responsive to Him. Praise God for such a wonderful gift.
Father in heaven, thank You that when we confess our sin to You,
You give us a new heart and a new life. I pray that the life I live reflects
the goodness of Your gift and that others may see the difference a new heart
has made in me.
For a new start, ask God for a
new heart.
INSIGHT:
Today’s text gives two reasons why God is
going to rescue and redeem the people of Israel. He will do it for the sake of
His holy name (v. 22) and so the nations will know He is the Lord (v. 23).
Source: Our Daily Bread 2015
