Heart of Flesh

Year 6-Day 43: Today, I am grateful for a heart of flesh.

Love month continues. This Old Testament passage resonates the with the good stuff. It is as if it echoes through the many centuries before this one. That is because God's word is not just holy.. it is living. It has a heartbeat. 

Today, I want to savor the reminder that that those who seek His face are gifted with a new heart... and a new song. I really need to memorize this verse. 

"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." -Ezekiel 36:26 

The world can harden our hearts through the prizes, treasures, success and fortune it offers. Because it never satisfies, the human heart hardens. We think "the next thing will make me happy." It never will. Our souls were created to be in relationship with our Creator. He is our missing piece. He is our missing peace. Only seeking his face and his grace will bring joy and contentment into our lives and soften our hardened hearts.  

A heart of flesh can be scary. It means we feel more. We see more. And yes... we hurt more. It sounds scary but in truth... there is nothing more divinely human than a heart of flesh. 

In my SS class... I love my SS class... we are doing a John Ortberg study. It is called "I'd Like You Better If You Were More Like Me." It is looking at relationships, intimacy and being faithful to Christ in our relationships. It is a good one. A few weeks ago, he instructed us to learn and live out these words to improve all of our relationships. 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. -Romans 12:15

Let's look at it in "The Message" for a very modern day expression of the meaning. 

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.  -Romans 12:15

When we feel others joy, laughter, sorrow and pain... we are feeling with a heart of flesh. It is evidence that we are not just making an appearance at a celebration or a funeral... but truly feeling the joys and the sorrows of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.

Yes... we were born for a relationship with Him... but he told us to love each other on the journey here. This is but a season... and for those heading to the same destination, we never have to face sorrow or joy alone. 

Love increases joy and divides sorrows. Isn't that an interesting? It is true, right? It is a divine dichotomy! It brings me to my knees in awe and gratitude of this God who loved us so much he sent his son to be with us, for us, not against us... and to pay our sin debt.  His crazy, relentless love for us amazes me. 

A heart of flesh... a gift from the Father... exemplified by the Son... and whispered by the Holy Spirit... what a special gift. It is not a trophy or a prize, it is a gift. It is the miracle of new life in Christ.  

Today, I am grateful for a heart of flesh.