Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Pentecost: Holy Spirit who renews all creation
Ezek 36: 25-30
Theme verse:
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh”. (Ezekiel 36:26)
Devotion
The bible passage Ezekiel 36:25-30, we witness the words from a prophecy where the God of Israel promises to restore His people. This restoration reward is for the sake of His holy name. Verse 26, speaks about God’s promise and How will He fulfill it.
1. What is God’s promise to you?
His promise is, He will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy spirit” (Titus 3:5). That’s why it is said, Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.
2. How will God fulfill His promise or What is the way of restoration?
This occurs through a process of,
a. Cleansing- is a process where we accept the gift of salvation. We are convicted as sinners. He cleanses us and forgives us our sins.
b. Renewal- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Cor 5:17). This marks the birth as a child of God. But the challenge is, do we identify ourselves as a child of God or identify as living in sin? In verse 26, God says that he will remove from us the heart of stone. Heart of stone means we are spiritually dead. We all know what a stone is, you touch it- you feel nothing, you try to break it- it resists, sometimes the knife may break. Such a heart is hard, cold, unresponsive and unreceptive. If we take a look, this heart of stone has desires for food, money, pleasures or fleeting feelings but is dead only when it comes to Jesus. Doesn’t it sound familiar? doesn't our lives resemble this? Only He can replace your stone heart with a heart of flesh that is sensitive, receptive and responsive to the Holy spirit.
c. Indwelling- This phase, the Holy spirit takes residence in our spirit. It is a continuation of the above processes through the stages of justification, sanctification and glorification. Here we are transformed in the image of Christ.
Theme verse:
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh”. (Ezekiel 36:26)
Devotion
The bible passage Ezekiel 36:25-30, we witness the words from a prophecy where the God of Israel promises to restore His people. This restoration reward is for the sake of His holy name. Verse 26, speaks about God’s promise and How will He fulfill it.
1. What is God’s promise to you?
His promise is, He will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy spirit” (Titus 3:5). That’s why it is said, Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.
2. How will God fulfill His promise or What is the way of restoration?
This occurs through a process of,
a. Cleansing- is a process where we accept the gift of salvation. We are convicted as sinners. He cleanses us and forgives us our sins.
b. Renewal- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Cor 5:17). This marks the birth as a child of God. But the challenge is, do we identify ourselves as a child of God or identify as living in sin? In verse 26, God says that he will remove from us the heart of stone. Heart of stone means we are spiritually dead. We all know what a stone is, you touch it- you feel nothing, you try to break it- it resists, sometimes the knife may break. Such a heart is hard, cold, unresponsive and unreceptive. If we take a look, this heart of stone has desires for food, money, pleasures or fleeting feelings but is dead only when it comes to Jesus. Doesn’t it sound familiar? doesn't our lives resemble this? Only He can replace your stone heart with a heart of flesh that is sensitive, receptive and responsive to the Holy spirit.
c. Indwelling- This phase, the Holy spirit takes residence in our spirit. It is a continuation of the above processes through the stages of justification, sanctification and glorification. Here we are transformed in the image of Christ.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, give us a heart of flesh, helping us to live a life you have called us for. Let our lives reflect your image. In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.
Thought for the Day
“No great saint lived without errors.”― Martin Luther
Dr. Julie Alex, Salem MarThoma Church, New York
Lord Jesus, give us a heart of flesh, helping us to live a life you have called us for. Let our lives reflect your image. In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.
Thought for the Day
“No great saint lived without errors.”― Martin Luther
Dr. Julie Alex, Salem MarThoma Church, New York