Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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A New Heart: God’s Promise of Restoration

Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 36:24-31

Key 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.” (Ezek. 36:26)

DEVOTION

Although we are more than a month into the New Year, it is never too late to talk about New Beginnings. Most of us are working on our resolutions. But they are only as strong as our willpower to fulfill them. This is when we turn to the promise of a new beginning, one which starts with a new heart and a renewed spirit; a powerful promise given to us from God to the people of Israel through the prophet Ezekiel, during their Babylonian exile. Ezekiel’s prophecy and God’s promise of restoration wasn’t given to strangers, rather, it was given to those who knew Him and had experienced His divine mercy countless times. Not only did God promise physical restoration but He also promised an internal transformation where He would change their hardened hearts of stone to soft hearts of flesh.

As Christian believers, the Holy Spirit dwells in us and it is within our hearts that the divine work that transforms us from the inside out begins. It is biblical that we will still show our sinful nature even when we want to do good. But what will be different with our new hearts, is that our selfishness will turn to compassion, our distress to hope and our intolerance to love. Our new heart will work in ways that reflect Christ-like demeanor.  God's promise in this verse is a powerful instrument for restoration and renewal - both physical and spiritual. No matter how far we fall, God will never abandon us and His salvation will never fail us. 

Ezekiel 36:26 is a statement of hope and renewal within the Old Testament. It is the transformative part of God’s promise of redemption. This verse provided hope to the exiled Israelites and continues to reassure Christian believers today of God’s grace, mercy, unwavering faithfulness and the calling for a deeper transformative relationship with Him.

   PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we are thankful for your never-failing promises that reassure us of your infinite patience and loving kindness. We are grateful for the promise of a cleansed heart through your Son and for your grace through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thought for the day

God's divine restoration happens because of His unconditional mercy and His perfect plan - it is our calling as Christian believers to trust in him.

Ziva Thomas, Grade 9
Carmel Mar Thoma Church Boston

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