My whole heart

We have been reviewing the prophets in Bible Study. Boy, did these guys have a tough job. Even though Israel refused to listen to their warnings of judgement, they remained steadfast. Isaiah was unsurpassed as a model for godliness. Jeremiah was passionate and faithful throughout his calling. He even wrote a book of sorrow and grief called Lamentations that manages to remind us that God’s mercies are new every morning.

Then I read about this dude named Ezekiel. Bless him. He’s the crazy kid who likes role playing and poetry jam sessions. My point? Zeke is straight up weird. Of course, I related immediately to his story.

When Ezekiel is 25-years-old, he is exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon with 10,000 other Jews. He lives and works at a refugee camp 750 miles away from his home. More importantly, 750 miles away from the temple where God dwells. He receives the commission to be a prophet and goes all out ministering to his fellow captives, relaying the prophet Jeremiah’s message: This isn’t going to end well. He acts out judgement with like street theater. He was a holy mime. He does all sorts of wacky things to get his point across. He’s faithful in conveying the Lord’s message. He begs them to turn away from other gods. He begs them to return to God.

Back in Jerusalem, the people start an anti-Babylon movement. King Nebuchadnezzar is no longer merciful. At this news, the king burns Jerusalem to the ground. A man escapes and manages to make it all the way to the refugee camp with the horrific news. There is no return to the Jerusalem they once knew. The city has fallen and the temple has been destroyed.

Ezekiel’s entire attitude changes at this realization. His message of judgement shifts to a message of hope. He explains to all the devastated people huddled together in captivity that one day, God is going to give His people a new heart. He will replace their hearts of stone with hearts of flesh! They should glorify Him for this gift they do not deserve! They can no longer pursue idols and get tangled in sin. They can’t be held captive to something else.

God wants your whole heart — not just a portion of it. This is a very hard message to hear when you are in your own personal exile.

In chapter 36 of the book of Ezekiel, God goes on to say this:

  • I will take you out of the nations
  • I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back to your own land
  • I will sprinkle clean water on you
  • I will cleanse you of your impurities
  • I will give you a new heart
  • I will remove your heart of stone
  • I will put my Spirit in you
  • I will be your God
  • I will save you
  • I will call for the grain and make it plentiful
  • I will increase your fruit
  • I will resettle your towns
  • I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel
  • I will make their people numerous
  • Then you will know that I AM THE LORD

I live in a world where I believe that God can. With that said, it’s sometimes hard for me to believe that God will.

My focus is to live a life that glorifies Him, even during the dark days. Ezekiel did. I hope I can too.

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Lori
Lori
October 21, 2016 12:09 pm

This is what I needed to hear this morning. Thank you.

KingAmy
KingAmy
October 21, 2016 12:51 pm

and me too!

Vicki
Vicki
October 21, 2016 1:14 pm

So excellent and timely … thank you for this! ❤️

Amy
Amy
October 21, 2016 2:24 pm

Thank you, thank you, thank you! And God Bless!!

Sarah
Sarah
October 22, 2016 7:25 am

Thank you! I needed to read this today. It’s easy to believe God can but I also doubt will he for me?

Mandy
Mandy
October 22, 2016 10:04 am

Thank you for sharing this.

Rena Gunther
October 22, 2016 10:21 am

LOVE this!!!
And yes! Yes He WILL!!! He wil be faithful to His promises that are YES and AMEN through Christ.

Melissa
Melissa
October 22, 2016 4:05 pm

I love this, thank you for speaking truth on these internets! Now I want to go study Ezekiel!

Kristin
Kristin
October 22, 2016 4:52 pm

I like your tag! I also love reading about the prophets. Thanks for sharing. Love it!

Melissa H.
Melissa H.
October 24, 2016 9:15 am

Amen! Thank you, and God bless you for sharing this.

Lou Anne
Lou Anne
October 24, 2016 1:28 pm

“I live in a world where I believe that God can. With that said, it’s sometimes hard for me to believe that God will.”

I feel this. So much. There is just so much that happens that I don’t understand! I have to remind myself constantly that He is so much bigger than I am. He sees the big picture, and all I can see is a tiny part of it. No context. So I have to trust that He’s got this.

Reminds me of that Natalie Grant song, “King of the World.”

“I tried to fit you in the walls inside my mind
I try to keep you safely in between the lines
I try to put you in the box that I’ve designed
I try to pull you down so we are eye to eye

When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world?”

Powerful stuff, Lincee! Thanks for sharing.

Marie
Marie
October 25, 2016 2:32 pm

Great post!

Kara K
Kara K
November 1, 2016 12:29 am

I love this Lincee! Write a devotional book! I’ll buy it

Vicki Garretson
Vicki Garretson
October 21, 2018 9:52 am

This was in my FB memories today. Timely and perfect for what I’m going thru.

Lincee… have you ever thought of writing a devotional? I know it would be first in line for a copy. ❤️

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