25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
When Vicki’s sister would misbehave when she was very small, her mom would ask where the good girl went. She would then leave the room and come in as the “good girl”. It was all very sweet I’m sure but it was nothing of the sort. Too often, Israel would put on the same airs as they pledged to follow God from this point on. The trouble was their old heart of stone that was too set in its ways to obey anyone but themselves and their own desires. God knew full well a makeover would be needed and a new heart as well.
There are many Christians in our churches that attend church, give, and sing the songs, all with a heart of stone. Only Jesus Christ and him crucified can make the necessary changes in these hearts. Only the Holy Spirit can convict us of our play acting at being a Christian. Only with the new heart can we be truly genuine in our worship because only then do we see the cost and our own sin. We are filthy in our sin and in need of the cleansing of the Water of Life. Praise the Lord for the New Covenant!
Dear Lord, thank you for making us clean with a new heart. Help us to stop pretending and really follow you and worship you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church