For now we see reality through a dirty, old mirror, but one day, what a glorious day, we will see things directly. 1 Corinthians 13:12a (my paraphrase)

January 24, 2022 - Heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26-27(NIV) - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Hebrews 8 and 10 quote a passage in Jeremiah 31 about a new covenant that seems to also corelate with this passage in Ezekiel.

What does it mean to have His laws put on my heart, and what is this heart of stone that get's replaced with a heart of flesh?

Hebrews 10 talks about the sacrifice system, how it anually reminded the Israelites of thier sins. Yet through the offering of the body of Christ, there is no longer any reminder needed because we have been sactified (declared holy, set apart for God's use). But why would we no longer need a reminder? I see 2 things in Hebrews 10. First In the Jeremiah passage that's quoted as fufilled in us, God will remember our sin no more! But that's after He has written His laws on our hearts.

The Hebrews passage goes on to describe how we now can draw near to God, be assured, and be drawn into the family of God, to encourage others in their walk, to meet, and to look forward to the promise.

All very encouraging. But why the transformation from stone to flesh? Not sure that's really answered. I can guess though that when things are written in stone, they are chiselled into the surface of the stone. The depths of the stone knows nothing about what is on it's surface. But, flesh? There are messages through and through, DNA, and the electro-chemical messages the DNA constructs. So, the writing is permiated throughout. The heart is spoken often in scripture as the seat of who we are, the wellspring from which our desires and thoughts come from. And that well has been filled with His ways.

Stone is also cold, and inflexible. Flesh is warm, and maliable. We are to be in community, thankfully we've been given a warm and giving heart that can absorb the joys and pains of others so we can walk together and share one anothers burdens.

God, dispell the lies of the evil one who wants to convice me my heart is still stone and that I need to be reminded of my sins. Let me approach You closely with a sincere heart(flesh, not stone) with boldness with the faith You give to me. Make in me one who spurs others toward love and good deeds, not through my words, but by the actions that come from the new heart You have given me.

January 12, 2022 - Elihu

Rediscovered a person in the Word that is little spoken of, has a short part, yet, acted as an opener for God Himself.

Elihu

We hear all about Job's 3 friends, their bad advise. We hear all about an almighty God giving Job a peak at whom he was questioning.

But how much do we hear of this man? He kept quiet while Job's 3 friends gave bad advise out of respect. He started the picture of God that God then chimed in to complete that picture.

I want to be that way. I want to be a listener first. To esteem others wiser than myself. And once I decide to speak, to be humble, and to be a voice that speaks the Word of Truth so well, that God could step in at any moment and continue the speaking even better than I.

Notice, God chastised the 3 friends, but did not Elihu.

I have so far still to go to be less of me, and more of Him.