Day 3 | The Promise of a New Heart
Ezekiel 36:26, “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.”
Ezekiel was a powerful Jewish prophet who lived in the 6th century B.C. before the time of Jesus, but he was given a life changing prophecy concerning the New Covenant. In days of Ezekiel the Israelites were waiting for the Messiah to come in the line of King David and set them free from their enemies.
However, God saw their need to be saved from the enemy within to be a greater priority. Meaning, when Jesus came as the promised Jewish Messiah and King, He didn’t first fight an earthly battle and defeat the natural enemies of Israel. Jesus first came as the sacrificial lamb to start a new covenant relationship with not only the Jewish people, but also all people in the world.
As a result, when someone today believes in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they are given the promise of Ezekiel- a “new heart and spirit.” The meaning for heart is basically the same as “soul,” which is the “mind, will, and emotions.” And man’s spirit is his “life force and connection to the spiritual world.” Thus, God was promising Ezekiel over 600 years before Jesus, that He would gave a new mind, will, and emotions to all who believe in Jesus, along with a spiritual rebirth.
In Luke 22:20 when Jesus was at the last supper and gave the wine He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Therefore, He was declaring to His disciples that His blood was the fulfillment of the promise given to Ezekiel. In turn, the moment you put your full trust in Jesus He made your soul and spirit brand new.
He took out the heart of stone and gave you a heart of flesh. He also gave you a spiritual rebirth so you could be born again and no longer be separated spiritually from Him because of your sin. Therefore, take some time today to thank Jesus for His blood that was poured out for you.
Reflection
Action
- Remind yourself today that your heart and spirit are new.
- Thank Jesus for His blood that was shed on the cross for you.
- Repent of any excuses you may have made to remain in your old ways.