Exit Us Reading Day 22
BIBLE READING PLAN WEEK 5
EXITING OUR HEARTS
DAY 2
In our readings this week, we’re focusing on the key idea from Exodus 7: “A hard heart will always lead to a hard life away from a gentle God.” Today, we will read from Ezekiel.
24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 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. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Reflection: Here in Ezekiel, one of God’s prophets, God tells of His solution to a hard heart: a brand new heart. Ezekiel is prophesying of Jesus’ death and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is now available to all who call on Jesus. We don’t deserve it, but God is freely offering us a clean heart and the gift of His Spirit within us to guide us in His ways.- Why isn’t the solution to our problem to just try harder?
- Take some time to pray: Ask for forgiveness for your hardness of heart and thank him for the gift of a new heart and His Spirit. If you would like to talk to someone about giving your life to Jesus and receiving his gift, contact us here.
24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 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. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Reflection: It’s hard to believe, but God’s people had hearts that were just as stubborn as Pharaoh’s. In fact, we read throughout the Old Testament, that after God rescued Israel from Egypt, they incessantly grumbled against God, put other things first in their lives, and ignored every prophet that God sent to them. As puzzling as this is, if we’re honest, we can see those same inclinations in our heart. Here in Ezekiel, one of God’s prophets, God tells of His solution to this: a new heart. “I will cleanse you from all your impurities…I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes…” (36:25-26). Ezekiel is prophesying of Jesus’ death and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is now available to all who call on Jesus. We don’t deserve it, but God is freely offering us a clean heart and the gift of His Spirit within us to guide us in His ways. So if our hearts are hard and far from God, what’s the solution? Cry out to God for his forgiveness through Jesus and the gift of His Spirit.- Why isn’t the solution to our problem to just try harder?
- How would you use this passage to encourage someone who believes they are too sinful for God?
- Take some time to pray: Ask for forgiveness for your hardness of heart and thank him for the gift of a new heart and His Spirit. If you would like to talk to someone about giving your life to Jesus and receiving his gift, contact us here.
24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 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. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Reflection: Do you love cleaning your room? Isn’t it just the most fun thing you get to do every week? Of course not! Even if your room is usually pretty clean, it can be super annoying to have to clean up, especially if you want to be doing something else. But what if there was a button to just… clean it for you? Where you pressed this button and poof! Your room was sparkling clean. Would you press that button? Uh, all the time, obviously! Did you know that God offers us something even better than that? No, He doesn’t give us a magic cleaning button. But He does offer us a clean heart and a new spirit! In our Bible reading today, God tells Ezekiel that He will give His people a new heart and spirit. But today, for us, God offers those things through Jesus! No matter what you have ever done, and no matter what you will ever do, accepting Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior, He offers us a clean and new heart and spirit.- What does it mean to have a clean heart?
- Pray this morning asking Jesus to help you have a clean heart and spirit.
Focus 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
Devotional:
It’s hard to believe, but God’s people had hearts that were just as stubborn as Pharaoh’s. In fact, we read throughout the Old Testament, that after God rescued Israel from Egypt, they incessantly grumbled against God, put other things first in their lives, and ignored every prophet that God sent to them. As puzzling as this is, if we’re honest, we can see those same inclinations in our heart. Here in Ezekiel, one of God’s prophets, God tells of His solution to a hard heart: a brand new heart. Ezekiel is prophesying of Jesus’ death and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is now available to all who call on Jesus. We don’t deserve it, but God is freely offering us a clean heart and the gift of His Spirit within us to guide us in His ways. So if our hearts are hard and far from God, what’s the solution? Cry out to God for his forgiveness through Jesus and the gift of His Spirit.
- Why isn’t the solution to our problem to just try harder?
- How would you use this passage to encourage someone who believes they are too sinful for God?
- Take some time to pray: Ask for forgiveness for your hardness of heart and thank him for the gift of a new heart and His Spirit. If you would like to talk to someone about giving your life to Jesus and receiving his gift, contact us here.
Focus 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
Devotional:
It’s hard to believe, but God’s people had hearts that were just as stubborn as Pharaoh’s. In fact, we read throughout the Old Testament, that after God rescued Israel from Egypt, they incessantly grumbled against God, put other things first in their lives, and ignored every prophet that God sent to them. As puzzling as this is, if we’re honest, we can see those same inclinations in our heart. Here in Ezekiel, one of God’s prophets, God tells of His solution to a hard heart: a brand new heart. Ezekiel is prophesying of Jesus’ death and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is now available to all who call on Jesus. We don’t deserve it, but God is freely offering us a clean heart and the gift of His Spirit within us to guide us in His ways. So if our hearts are hard and far from God, what’s the solution? Cry out to God for his forgiveness through Jesus and the gift of His Spirit.
- Why isn’t the solution to our problem to just try harder?
- How would you use this passage to encourage someone who believes they are too sinful for God?
- Take some time to pray: Ask for forgiveness for your hardness of heart and thank him for the gift of a new heart and His Spirit. If you would like to talk to someone about giving your life to Jesus and receiving his gift, contact us here.