Today is the final post in the series, “When It’s Time For A New Heart.” If you missed part 1 click here or for part 2 click here.
God was displeased with the people of Judah for their disobedience. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God told the people He was going to give them a new heart (Eze. 36:26). But why? Why did the people of Judah need a new heart?
They Didn’t Live To Please God
Judah’s problem stemmed from the fact they didn’t live to obey God (v. 27). God was going to put His spirit in them so they would walk in His statutes and obey His rules. The people were living to please themselves. It was about what made them happy. They weren’t living their lives to please God, that’s why they were in need of a new heart.
As Christians, the greatest commandment we have is to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Matt. 27:37-38). Our greatest desire should be to love God and want to serve and obey Him. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15). I love Miranda with all my heart. It is because of my great love for her, I try my hardest every day to please her and make her happy. You probably do the same thing with your spouse. Just as we love our spouses and try to please them, if we truly love God, we are going to live to please Him.
I’ve come across several people whose aim is to please God above everything else…but what about my life? As I go about my daily life, do I ever stop and consider if what I am doing is pleasing to God? Too often we are so busy we never consider whether what we are doing is pleasing to God. In fact, a lot of times if we do stop and think about what we are doing, it’s so we can decide if our current situation is pleasing to us. Think about it, we spend more time deciding how to please ourselves then we do God.
When our lives are so consumed with what pleases us and not what pleases God, we need a new heart.
I’m prayerfully asking each of us to consider the depths of our hearts. Although no one else can see the condition of your heart, God can (I Sam. 16:7). God sees whether or not your heart truly belongs to Him. He can see whether or not your heart is impure.
After David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and was convicted of his sin, he prayed to God, “Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew your steadfast spirit within me” (Psa. 51:10). Why not do the same right now.
Remember friends, the condition of our heart determines the outcome of our soul. The people of Judah were in the mess they were in because of the condition of their hearts. Don’t allow the condition of your heart to continue to go untreated, make an appointment with the Great Physician today.
Now that’s Something to Think About!