Choosing to Change
Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed,
and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
Ezekiel 18:31
The 8-year-old son of some friends of mine, had a small robot. The child had great fun programming it to perform simple tasks. He could make it move forward, stop, and then retrace its steps. He could even get it to beep and replay recorded noises. The robot did exactly what the child told it to do. It never laughed spontaneously or veered off in an unplanned direction. It had no choice.
When God created humans, He did not make robots. God made us in His image, and this means we can think, reason, and make choices and decisions. We are able to choose between right and wrong. Even if we have made a habit of disobeying God, we can decide to redirect and change our lives.
When the ancient Israelites found themselves in trouble with God, He spoke to them through the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel said, “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions; so that iniquity will not be your ruin. . . .Get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezek 18:30–31).
This kind of change can begin with just one choice, empowered by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13). It might mean saying no at a critical moment. No more gossip. No more greed. No more jealousy. No more ___________. (You fill in the blank.) If you know the Lord Jesus, you are not a slave to sin. You can choose to change, and with God’s help, this personal revolution can start today.
Read
Ezekiel 18:25–32.
Prayer
Dear God, all things are possible with You. Through the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus, help me to take the first step toward a life of greater devotion to You. In His name, I pray. Amen.
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