New Life in the Old Testament
(S) Scripture
Ezekiel 36:25-28 (NASB77)
25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 "And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
28 "And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.
(O) Observation
A right relationship with God has always been a result of His work and not ours. Here God, through Ezekiel, says that He will cleanse and give us a new heart and put His Spirit in us. Again it is His work of grace that allows us to walk with Him.
(A) Application
I am again reminded that my best efforts cannot merit or gain God's favor. At my best I do not deserve cleansing or the forgiveness of sins. At my best I am still a dirty sinner in need of the work of God in my life. On this side of the life and death of His Son, Jesus, that work comes by faith in Jesus. I am so thankful that my relationship with God is not dependent on my ability to please God or earn His favor. I am saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. Praise God. It is God that redeemed me. I walk clean because of His work in me. I am forgiven because of His work in Christ. I thank God for this reminder today.
(P) Prayer
Father, I thank you for sending your Son to do for me what I could not do for myself. I thank you for His sacrifice for my sins. I thank you for saving me and allowing me to now live for you. Use me today to make a difference in someone's life for the sake of your kingdom. Amen
2 comments:
Dallas Willard has written that grace is so much about God, and not about us, that our obedience really makes no difference. Interesting. I'm led to believe by your blog that you would agree; not meaning that it's not important but that it's not ULTIMATELY important. Agree? Miss me? Your bud
Bud makes an interesting observation. Here's another one....the prophet's words seem to make it clear that "salvation" is not an event but rather a life. The image painted in this text is loaded with thoughts that lead one to believe that God never intended for salvation to be seen as a "point in time decision" but rather as a life that is continual. Having said this, why do we as Baptists seem to be put so much emphasis on "getting saved" and being able to name the time, date, location, etc. of our commitment to Jesus as if to suggest that's all there is to it. Salvation is not a "buy your ticket and get ready to go" thing. It's a journey....a life!
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