ESOCS Devotional 25 July 2021
TEXT: EZEKIEL 11:11-25
MEMORY VERSE: “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 11:19 KJV).
God was merciful with Israel, His delight. No doubt, He lavishly showed His mercy on them. When He scattered them, He still brought them back. From our Bible passage, God wanted to bring them back from exile to Jerusalem, and to Him again, through true worship. That was His character (mercy) in action.
“One heart” indicates a unanimous singleness of purpose – to walk in God’s statutes, to keep His ordinances and do them. So, they will no longer seek many gods; they will be content with God. The new heart is a radical transplant of the hard, deaf, immovable one for a tender, receptive, and responsive one (Ezekiel 18:31, 32; 36:26). The new life can only be the work of the Holy Spirit (John 6:63; Romans 8:11).
New life in Christ is the best for us. That is why He died for us. It is God’s mercy, but we must recognize and turn from our sin. When we do, God gives us new heart for new life – now motives, new guidelines, and new purpose. We should not be like the ‘stiff-necked’ Israelites: sinful today – righteous tomorrow – sinful the next day; this is going back to our vomit (Proverbs26:11). If we confess our sin and repent, He will greatly pardon (Isaiah 55:7; 1 John 1:2). His is merciful.
Yes, God is merciful, but we should not take this for granted. He will only extend it to whom He wants (Exodus 33:19). We have liberty, but we should not abuse it (Galatians 5:13).
God is merciful. In appreciation, live a life that merits His mercy. Don’t abuse it. Shalom!
- Are you a lukewarm Christian? Are you stiff-necked? Do you go back to your vomit?
- Ask God to help you stand firm, not lukewarm or stiff-necked. Ask for His mercy.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Romans 8:1-11; 2 Peter 2:20-22; 1 John 1:8-10
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ESOCS Devotional 25 July 2021
