New

“Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’ But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.” Exodus 8:19 NKJV

At our next 2nd Saturday Discussion on June 14 our topic will be ‘The King Equips Us For Growth.’ We will discuss how to grow our hearts tender for God and people without allowing them to be hardened like Pharaoh’s heart.

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:25-26 NKJV

We probably all like new things. Jesus offers us new hearts! Every one of us has things we regret- things we know we have done wrong.

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Galatians 4:4-5 NIV

What a beautiful story we step into. God saw the depravity of mankind. In reality, we have all had hearts like Pharaoh’s. And then the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to take our punishment. He offers us new life in Him. New hearts to replace our cold, dead hearts when we surrender to the Father’s authority. He makes us His sons and daughters.

Today we should pray that the Holy Spirit will teach us how to live this new life we have in Jesus. We can pray that we will grow in His love and that He will keep our hearts soft and alive in Him.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV