Ezekiel 36:22-32
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. 23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. 24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29 And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. 30 I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord God; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.
When we are tempted to discouragement and despair over our sin, we need to remember that God is actively at work. Furthermore, He acts not because we deserve His blessing, but for the sake of His name: "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name" (verse 22). Listen to what He promises to do: "from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you" (verse 25); "I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you" (verse 26); "I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes" (verse 27); "I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses" (verse 29). There is hope! God can save us from the muck and mire that we are stuck in.
Lord, please put Your Spirit within me and cause me to walk in Your ways.
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. 23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. 24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29 And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. 30 I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord God; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.
When we are tempted to discouragement and despair over our sin, we need to remember that God is actively at work. Furthermore, He acts not because we deserve His blessing, but for the sake of His name: "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name" (verse 22). Listen to what He promises to do: "from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you" (verse 25); "I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you" (verse 26); "I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes" (verse 27); "I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses" (verse 29). There is hope! God can save us from the muck and mire that we are stuck in.
Lord, please put Your Spirit within me and cause me to walk in Your ways.