Our scripture this morning is Ezekiel 36:26-27.
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. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
Have you ever had a change of heart? It’s a term we use to describe planning to do one thing, but then after consideration doing something completely different. It indicates a change in our thinking and our behavior toward a situation or a person.
This is the promise God gives Israel (and us) in this passage. Rather than waiting for us to figure it out, the Lord says “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” This reminds us of David’s prayer of confession in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
God is ready and willing to take us back in love. We don’t have to figure it out, we just need to go to Him in repentance, wanting a better connection to Him and a better relationship with our brothers and sisters. God waits for us to accept the fact we can’t save ourselves and turn to Him.
Loving Lord, we are ashamed of our selfish ways toward You and one another. Bless us to be washed clean through the sacrifice of Your son and go in Your name to all the world. Amen.
