I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)
In my quiet times of late I have been moving through the Old Testament, and it never ceases to amaze me how the Children of Israel were so fickle in their devotion to God.
There were so many miracles recorded, they had the law, and their fearless leaders Moses and Joshua; and they were escorted through the desert with God’s presence. God went before them ensuring their success as they crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. But low and behold, in every season, they grumbled, struggled with sustaining their belief, and fell into worshipping false gods. Their hearts grew cold, distant and unfaithful.
Ezekiel, like so many other prophets, warned Israel of God’s judgment, and the consequences of their sin. However, the focus of Ezekiel is also the redemption of God’s people. God’s love is so great, and his faithfulness to his people so unwavering, he wanted to restore his people, shepherd them and cleanse them.
In the restoration noted above, God depicts what He will give to those who follow His decrees, and who are careful to keep His laws. God enters once again into relationship with those whose hearts are devoted to Him. He places a new spirit in them, and performs a heart transplant: a heart of flesh for a heart of stone. Israel becomes His people once again, and God Himself becomes their God.
It’s not so different today. God still wants us to be His people and He still wants to be our God. Those whose spirits are awakened to the God of the Universe can enter into relationship with him. It often begins with a subtle waking to things of the Spirit, realizing there is more to life than the daily grind. Or, some life event that humbles or shakes us to our core. We open ourselves to enter into relationship with the Divine. It may be an acknowledgement of Who God is, or a desire to seek Him and His purpose for our lives. Or it may just be a realization of belief in God and a desire to be dedicated to something greater than ourselves.
May you experience the transformation of your life and enter into relationship of a lifetime and beyond. Wise men still seek Him (God); and for those who do, He -the God of the Universe - will be found by you. He will exchange your cold, hard, dead heart of stone and give you a new spirit and a heart of flesh. Your new spirit will discern the Divine; your heart of flesh will share love and compassion for those made in God’s image; and you will find meaning and purpose beyond yourself.
May you Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And may you love your neighbor as yourself. When you seek first His Kingdom, all these things will be added to you.
Selah.
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