All of us have had the experience of dealing with hard-hearted people and it’s often not a pleasant experience. There are times when we may act hard-hearted and cause difficulty for others. The nation of Israel had become hard-hearted toward God and they had to face the consequences of their insensitivity toward God. After a time of exile, God would bring them back into their land. The Bible reveals that God does not give up on His people:

For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24)

God’s desire is not to forsake His people, but to redeem them from their sinful ways:

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. (Ezekiel 36:25)

God wants to bring His cleansing touch to His people. We see this concept in the New Testament as we put off our ungodly deeds so that we can be a vessel for honor:

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)

The power to put off our evil deeds comes from God’s divine enablement:

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. (Ezekiel 36:26)

God gives us a new spirit and takes away our hard heart and gives us a tender heart. When our heart is right, then our feet are swift to do God’s will. The power to live for God comes from His Spirit:

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. (Ezekiel 36:27)

God’s Spirit leads us to follow Him and enables us to keep His commandments. What God did for the nation of Israel, He can do for us. We are to work out what the Spirit works in:

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

The Holy Spirit provides the power that enables us to follow Him:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, (1 Corinthians 2:12)

Do you realize the blessings of your spiritual inheritance? May we walk in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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