The Melting Pot (Day 3 from Cleansing Thoughts)

 

   Change is a hard thing for some of us to accept, but if we are to be Christ like, then we must deal with the heart issues of our life. Scripture tells us that it is the center of our moral and spiritual life. When I teach, I like to use objects lessons to reinforce what I am saying. One of those lessons is taken from Ezekiel chapter eleven. In this object lesson I use a gray-ish-colored cut stone, that looks something like a large piece of gravel. There is nothing beautiful about it, as a matter of fact it’s quite ugly, that is until you look inside. Then the true beauty of the stone is revealed of pearl used soft pink quarts, verses 19-20 (NKJV) says, “I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh.” In the Bible man’s conscience is associated with his heart because in the Hebrew language  there isn’t a word to express this concept. We are instructed in Proverbs 4:23 to “keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life.” (NKJV)

   Because the heart is the center of who we are, God must beginHis work there. Think of it this way, if you knew your pastor was coming for dinner, wouldn’t you want to clean your house before he arrived? Yet the Scripture tells us that by faith, Christ dwells in our heart. His words were, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and open it he door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:29, NKJV). This letter was written to believers of a lukewarm church. The door is your heart, have you cleaned  it yet?

   Remember God said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19, NKJV). If you are in need of a heart adjustment, as I was, now is the time to come before your Heavenly Father with a humble heart and allow Him to begin a new work in you. I wish I could tell you it would not be painful, but in all honestly, I can’t. Those were some painful times for me, but I can tell you they were by far the most rewarding! I am a new creation in Christ. The journey from your head to your heart can seem like a thousand miles, but it is a journey worth taking. Before you begin, let me pray with you. 

“Heavenly Father, be with those that are beginning their journey to become the person You have created them to be. Surround them in Your love, and guide them through Your Word that they find encouragement along their way. Create in them a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within them that they might have a clean house as Your dwelling place. In Jesus name we pray.”