A New Family

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 11

I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11.19-20)

Devotional Thought: I was saved on my first Sunday attending the Church of the Nazarene in Pioneer, Ohio.  With tears running down my face, I rose from the altar with a new family - the family of God.  As a teenager, I didn't know much about my new family, but I knew that I had a new life.

What happens when we begin living this new life?  Consider what God told Ezekiel:

·       God...

Gives us one heart. 

"Those who believed were of one heart and soul" (Acts 4.32).

Puts a new spirit within us. 

"They were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2.4).

Removes our heart of stone. 

"You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked " (Ephesians 2.1-2).

Gives us a heart of flesh. 

"But God... made us alive together with Christ" (Ephesians 2.4-5).

Becomes our God.

 "God is not ashamed to be called their God" (Hebrews 11.16).

·       We...

Walk in his statutes. 

"As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him" (Colossians 2.6).

Become his people. 

"Those who were not my people I will call 'my people'" (Romans 9.25)

In our church in Pioneer, we used to sing: "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God - I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, the family of God." (Bill Gaither).  That was almost 50 years ago.  I still love singing it today!

Prayer: Thank you, Heavenly Father, for making me a part of your family!  I love you, Lord!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 27.11-14

11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!