A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Ezekiel 36:26, 27.
he heart of man may be the abode of the Holy Spirit. The peace of Christ that passeth understanding may rest in your soul, and the transforming power of His grace may work in your life, and fit you for the courts of glory. But if brain and nerve and muscle are all employed in the service of self, you are not making God and heaven the first consideration of your life. It is impossible to be weaving the graces of Christ into your character while you are putting all your energies on the side of the world.
You may be successful in heaping up treasure on the earth, for the glory of self; but “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Eternal considerations will be made of secondary importance. You may take part in the outward forms of worship; but your service will be an abomination to the God of heaven. You cannot serve God and mammon. You will either yield your heart and put your will on the side of God, or you will give your energies to the service of the world. God will accept no half-hearted service.
“The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light” (Luke 11:34). If the eye is single, if it is directed heavenward, the light of heaven will fill the soul, and earthly things will appear insignificant and uninviting. The purpose of the heart will be changed, and the admonition of Jesus will be heeded. You will lay up your treasure in heaven. Your thoughts will be fixed upon the great rewards of eternity. All your plans will be made in reference to the future, immortal life. You will be drawn toward your treasure. You will not study your worldly interest; but in all your pursuits the silent inquiry will be “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6).—The Review and Herald, January 24, 1888.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 48
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for wisdom and guidance for E. R
—-Please pray for Cindi’s brother who is in the hospital w infection in his lung. Shannon
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Dear Friends,
When Eileen was in first and second grade, she went to a one-room school. As I drove her the fifteen miles to our home, she often talked about one the older boys in the class and what he had done to disrupt the day. He was the “class clown” and always seemed to be in trouble. He was not a bad boy, he just liked to be the center of attention. No matter how the teacher punished him, he seemed to think that making the other children laugh was his reason for being there.
He learned a valuable lesson one day, however, that caused him to change some of his ways. One bad habit he had was tipping back on his chair. No matter how many times the teacher told him to keep all four chair legs on the floor, he would always tip back on just two. She told him that someday he would fall backwards, but he did not take her seriously. He thought he had perfect control of that old, wooden chair. He thought she was a very mean teacher, but she was really concerned for his welfare. Her warnings were to protect him from injury. As he disobeyed day after day, his influence was beginning to show in the way the other children obeyed their teacher as well. She was at a loss as to what to do.
One day, the matter took care of itself. Somehow that “class clown” tipped back just a little too far in his chair and down he went just as the teacher had warned. He hit the back of his head very hard. The chair must have come up and hit his chin because it split open as well. Hurt and humiliated, he was a little more subdued after that. The teacher noticed that after that incident the other children were more obedient. They learned the lesson of cause and effect that day.
Often we are like that boy. We read many warnings in God’s Word, but chafe under the restriction. God gave Israel a choice so many years ago. “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God.” Deut 11:26 We have that same choice today. God’s greatest desire is to bless us. He gave us His Commandments to protect us, but so often we turn away and do our own “thing”. How much grief that causes His Great Heart of Love. His greatest desire is for us to love Him by obeying Him. He knows the effect of our disobedience and pleads, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11
Jesus tells us, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 John tells us, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:2-4
May we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” that we may someday dwell with Him forevermore. Phil 3:14; Rev 22:14
Rose

The Heart Changed