Christianity Oasis Forum

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WEDNESDAY JULY 15


TRANSFORMED HEARTS

READ:
PROVERBS 4:23 NIV
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Above all else,
guard your heart,
for everything you
do flows from it.
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During the early 1970's in Ghana, a poster titled "The Heart of Man" appeared on walls and public notice boards. In one picture, all kinds of reptiles__symbols of the vile and despicable__filled the heart-shaped-painting with the head of a very unhappy man on top of it. In another image, the heart-shape was clean and serene with the head of a contented man. The caption beneath the images read: "What is the condition of your heart?"

In Matthew 15:18-19, Jesus explained what pollutes a person. "The things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts-murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander" (NIV). That is the condition of a heart separated from God-the situation ancient Israelites found themselves in when their sins forced them into exile (EZEK. 36:26 is beautiful: "I will give you a new heart, and iI will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart" (NLV; SEE aLSO 11:19). God will take away our stubborn hearts that have been corrupted by all kinds of evil and give to us a clean heart that is responsive to Him. Praise God for such a wonderful gift. _Lawrence Darmani

**Father in heaven, thank You that when we confess our sin to You,
You give us a new heart and a new life. I pray that the life I live reflects
the goodness of Your gift and that others may see the difference
a new heart has made in me.
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For a new start, ask God for a new heart.

***********************Today's Bible Reading ***********************
22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the
Lord God: "I do not do this for your sake, O house of
Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have
profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I
will sanctify My great name, which has bee profaned among
the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the
nations shall know that I am the Lord," says the Lord GOD,
"When I am hallowed in you before their eyes.

24 "For I will take you from among the nations, gather you
out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 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. 26 I
will give you a new heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart
of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk
in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;
you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver
you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and
multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply
the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that
you need never again bear the reproach 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 in
your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations." ' "

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Today's text gives two reasons why God is
going to rescue and redeem the people of Israel. He will do it for
the sake of His holy name (v.22) and so the nations will know He is
the Lord (v. 23).