We Need a New Heart and a New Spirit to Live Right by God

Scripture: Ezekiel 18: 30-32

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Scripture Commentary: Create in me a new heart, O God

God gives everyone a moral compass, a way to distinguish good from evil and right from wrong. When you do something wrong you tell God that you are deviating from his path. The wrong action calls for punishment, and we almost always believe it is unfair. We call God unfair when in reality we need to live up to his ways of fairness and follow the path he has set for us. We need to take on a new heart and a new spirit according to God’s ways.

Our God is a God of love and perfect justice.

He shows mercy on those who recognize their sin and ask for forgiveness, but he cannot tolerate those who knowingly go against him.

Wicked people die both spiritually and physically.

God takes no joy in these deaths. He would prefer they turn away from their ways and do good. He wants to give them a life of love.

What do you choose?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 18

Additional Reading:
Psalms Chapter 51

Let Nothing Separate You and Your God

Scripture: Isaiah 59:1-2

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Scripture Commentary: For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.*

God can and will do everything for you. He will love you unconditionally, show you mercy, and give you eternal life. In return, he seeks openness, confession, and your request for forgiveness. Let nothing separate you and your God.

Sin offends God and separates us from him.

God can neither ignore nor tolerate sin as if it did not matter. If someone treats you poorly and doesn’t apologize, do you continue having a relationship with them, or do you shut them out of your life? Why shouldn’t God do the same when you treat him wrong?

If you live a life of sin, you force God to turn away from you.

Dying with sin means no forgiveness, and we separate ourselves eternally from God. God wants us to live with him forever, not live in eternal damnation.

Choose to live the life with God.

If you confess that you believe God gave his only Son to save the world so that neither you nor I, nor anyone, should perish; and you choose to live a Christian life, then God is with you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Isaiah Chapter 59

**Additional Reading:
Isaiah Chapter 41

The Wicked Do Not Seek God

Scripture: Psalms 10: 3-6

For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

Scripture Commentary: Why are you upset when wicked people prosper?

Some people succeed in everything they do, and they brag that no one, not even God, can keep them down. There is an incompatibility in the wicked between blind arrogance and the presence of God in their hearts.

We may wonder why God allows these people to amass great wealth while they despise God as they do. Why are you upset when wicked people prosper? Are you angry about the damage they’re doing or are you just jealous of their success?

God will punish the wicked in his time

Keep in mind that God’s guiding influence is not in these people’s lives. We must gain the right perspective on wickedness and wealth. The wicked will surely be punished because God hates their evil deeds.

Wealth is only temporary. Do you know of anyone who was able to take their wealth with them into death?

It is not necessarily a sign of God’s approval if a person is wealthy. Don’t let wealth or the lack of it become your obsession. True wealth is with the One and Only, Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 10

The Prayer of an Old and Gray-Headed Man for Rescue

Scripture: Psalms 71: 18

And even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not abandon me,
Until I declare Your [mighty] strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.

Scripture Commentary: You are never too old and gray-headed to serve God

A person is never too old and gray-headed to serve God, never too old to pray. As we face the sunset years, we recognize that God has been the constant help in our lives.

Remembering God’s lifetime of blessing will help us see the consistency of his grace throughout the years, trust him for the future, and share with others the love he has for us.

God has no limitations

Although age may stop us from certain physical activities, it needn’t end our desire to tell others about all we have seen God do in our lives. We must never despair, but keep on expecting his help no matter how severe our own limitations become.

When your situation seems hopeless, remember that in your long life he kept you safe from harm even when you did not acknowledge him. Do not leave this earth without sharing the love of God.

Exalt God

He is our security; we must cling to him. Take the time each day to be still and exalt God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 71

Living for God In A Deceitful World Can Be Difficult

Scripture: Psalms 12: 1-5

Save and help and rescue, Lord, for godly people cease to be,
For the faithful vanish from among the sons of men. They speak deceitful and worthless words to one another; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaks great things [in boasting]; Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord and master over us?” “Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

Scripture Commentary: Do not speak wicked and deceitful words

Living for God in a deceitful world can be a difficult and lonely battle. We may be tempted to believe that lies are harmless, even useful at times.

God does not overlook lies, flattery, deception, or boasting.

Each of these sins originates from a bad attitude that is eventually expressed in our speech. The tongue can be our greatest enemy because, though small, it can do great damage. Be careful how you use your tongue.

God loves and cares for the weak and needy.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 12

Meditate on God’s Word Day and Night

Scripture: Psalms 1: 1-2, 4-6

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (1-2) The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.(4-6)

Scripture Commentary: Meditate on God’s Word to Learn His Ways

Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to God’s will.

The more we allow those who ridicule God to affect our thoughts and attitudes, the more we will begin to separate ourselves from our source of nourishment.

True friendships will help, not hinder, our walk with God.

Those who diligently try to obey God’s will are blessed. In contrast, those who don’t trust and obey God have meaningless lives. There are only two paths of life before us: God’s way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction.

Learn how to follow God. Meditate on His Word. We must know what He says in order to follow him more closely. The more we know the scope of God’s Word, the more resources we will have to guide us in our daily life decisions.

Be sure to choose God’s path because the path you choose will determine your eternity.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 1

What You Do in the Dark Eventually Comes to Light

Scripture: Ezekiel 8: 11-12

And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Ja-az-a-ni’-ah the son of Sha’-phan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth.

Scripture Commentary: God sees all the dirty deeds we do in the dark.

Why do people do in the dark what they conceal from the light? People hide their actions in shame of their wrongdoing. There is no hiding from God. What we do in the light or dark, good or bad, God sees.

Those who recognize their error but continue practicing it embrace idolatry and wickedness. Are you allowing sin to control you?

Identify your weakness and turn to God for strength.

In this chapter, God reveals to Ezekiel the extent to which people embraced idolatry and wickedness. Look at yourself and see where you went wrong. Let God’s spirit work in you to reveal the sin lurking in your life. Learn from the Bible, identify your weakness and turn to God for strength.

The Bible continues telling us how people lost their way and how God, in mercy, accepted them again.

It is not too late to repent.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 8

The Lord Will Answer You

Scripture: Ezekiel 14: 6-7

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself…

Scripture Commentary: Go to God with a pure heart for the Lord will answer you.

People today behave in a manner similar to the Israelites in the Bible. We go to the Lord for things instead of worship. Sometimes we seek advice from ministers, but we have ulterior motives. Of this, God says, “I the Lord will answer him by myself.” He tells us to repent and turn from our idols.

If you do not go to God with a pure heart, you are placing idols between you and God. Do not go to God until you repent and ask for his mercy and forgiveness. Humble yourself before him, be sincere.

You can’t fool God.

God knows what is in your heart, so you cannot fool him at all. You can’t have idols in your heart when you pursue God. Things like reputation, acceptance, wealth, and sensual pleasure are held in our hearts with the intensity and commitment that should be reserved for serving God.

We are weak and have the potential to fall into idolatry.

Let God replace your sinful wants. He will be your pillar of strength. You are responsible for your own relationship with God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ezekiel Chapter 14

Wealth Won’t Save You on the Great Day of the Lord

Scripture: Zephaniah 1: 14-18

The great day of the Lord is near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.

Scripture Commentary: The great day of the Lord is near and coming quickly

At the time of Zephaniah’s prophesy, the great day of the Lord was near. The Babylonians would soon come and destroy Jerusalem.

The day of the Lord is also near us. God promises a final judgement, a day of worldwide destruction. The Babylonians’ conquest occurred just as surely and horribly as Zephaniah predicted.

God’s final day of judgement is also sure, but so is his ability to save. Recognize, you have sinned. Know that your sin will bring judgement and that you cannot save yourself. God alone can save you from damnation.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Zephaniah Chapter 1

Honor the Father so That It May Go Well with You

Scripture: Malachi 1: 6-7

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ “By offering defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible.

Scripture Commentary: Give the Lord the honor he deserves

Are you worshipping the lord out of faith; giving him honor, thanking him and giving him praise? Or, are you worshipping him in hopes of getting something in return?

In your offerings, do you give God what is his, or are you giving him the smaller portion?

Keep in mind, all is God’s. What you have, he has given to you. God’s law requires only perfect goods from you, not your leftovers. If you give God your leftover time, money, and energy, then you repeat the same sin as those worshipers in Malachi’s time. They didn’t want to bring anything valuable to God.

What you offer to God reflects the honor you give Him.

Your way of giving shows your real Christian self. Give God only the best you have, not only the material things but also your time. God gave you his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, because he loves you. In return, give the best of yourself and love Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Malachi Chapter 1