I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 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. 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. 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 26:23:27
Why does God save people? It is because of His great love and for His own name’s sake. The idolatry of Israel brought God’s name into disrepute, not to mention the damage done to the lives of the people themselves. Ezekiel tells of the time soon to come wherein God replaces a heart of stone (ironically, the material of idols), and puts within His people a new heart of flesh and His Spirit. For Christians this is what we experience when we receive Christ into our hearts.
Does my life profane or prove God’s holiness? Has my heart of stone been replace with a heart of flesh?
God, thank you that You have replaced my heart and filled me with Your Holy Spirit. May my words, thoughts, actions and decisions bring glory to Your name.
