New Heart

For as long as I can remember, people have had heart problems. Bypass surgery has become a common practice. Taking an aspirin a day has grown from being heard very seldom to a lot. Mechanical hearts became popular and seemed to be filled with problems. I heard this week about a pig’s heart being transferred into a man’s chest.

Because sin clogs our spiritual “arteries” – our capacity to connect with God – we need spiritual “surgery” to clear them. This is what God promised His people in Ezekiel 36:26. He assured the Israelites, “I will give you a new heart… I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”  In verse 25 he also promised, “I will cleanse you from all impurities”.  Verse 27 says I will “put my spirit in you.”  In chapter 18, Ezekiel said, “Rid yourselves of all offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.” (vs. 31) The people of Judah couldn’t do this by themselves.  This is why Ezekiel says, “I will give you a new heart.” (36:26)

This promise is ultimately fulfilled through Jesus’ death and resurrection.  When we trust Jesus, we receive a new spiritual heart.  This heart has been cleansed of our sin and despair. Our new heart beats with the lifeblood of God, so that “we too may live a new life”. (Romans 6:4)

Prayer: Father, thank you for the hope that we have in Jesus.  Help us to trust you daily as your spirit leads us into a whole new way of living. Make us understand that through Jesus we have a “new heart”. Amen.

Ezekiel 36:26 – I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.

Author: Tommy Herndon