August 18th~A New Spirit

Ezekiel 10:1-13:23

Ezekiel saw a vision of the glory and presence of the Lord leaving the Temple. He had been there, among His people, since Solomon had built His sanctuary hundreds of years earlier. However, with the rebelliousness of the people and the egregiousness of their sins, God could no longer dwell among them. “The glory of the Lord went up from the city and stopped above the mountain to the east” (11:23).

Though God’s presence would return to the city later (Ezekiel 43), for now His protection was removed with His presence. Thus, the last days before the final judgment had come. Those who remained in Jerusalem would either be killed or captured; their end was near. Even the king, Zedekiah, would be taken prisoner (11:12, 13).

However, as the Lord had promised Jeremiah, He told Ezekiel that He would one day bring the people back to their homeland. “I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you are scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again” (11:17). It was the first time in Ezekiel’s ministry that he had been given a message of hope. The captivity would not be the end but a beginning.

In fact, the Lord foretold of a new era that was coming. “When the people return to their home- land, they will remove every trace of their detestable idol worship. I will give them a singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then, they will truly be My people, and I will be their God” (11:18-20). Here is a prophecy of the New Testament, that time in which the Lord would send His Spirit to live within His people forever; and, the visible difference He would make is incredible.

Daily Reflection

I am so grateful to be living on this side of the cross, after the coming of Christ. It pains me to watch the people of God in the Old Testament disdain and disobey His Word. Their disregard for His will and ways is remarkable to me, especially after all that He had done for them; but, then I realize that they lived in a time when the Spirit was not present within them, as He is in us. In their defense, they had no one to help them overcome their sinful nature and, thus, no way to sustain a desire to follow God’s laws.

Praise God, you and I have His Spirit living within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). By the blood of Christ, He has overcome our enslavement to sin and, through His power, we are able to obey His leadership, to understand His Word, to withstand the temptations of our flesh, and to do good works for His glory and the good of others.

Can you sense the Holy Spirit living in you? How so? What else has He enabled you to do?

The power of God dwells in you. He has given you everything you need for life and godliness. All that is necessary for Him to work in your life is your availability. If you are not witnessing this transformation, perhaps it is because you have not yet surrendered all to Him. What are you holding back for yourself?

BiAY.org | Day 230 — 135 Days to Go