Verse"And I will never again turn my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!"
— Ezekiel 39:29 nlt
ThoughtGod speaks of the coming of his New Covenant relationship with his people. One dynamic of that covenant is that the Spirit will be part of a permanent relationship with them. Paul speaks powerfully of this in Romans 8 (esp. vs. 32-39). Unlike God's leaders before Jesus who had the Spirit for a time for specific challenges or until they rebelled against him, God's new covenant people were to have his Spirit permanently and continually and they would all have the Spirit — read Acts 2 to see this emphasis at Pentecost. Never again will he turn his face from his people. His Spirit will never depart from us. We can oppose, resist, grieve, and quench the Spirit, but God's Spirit stays to soften our hearts, mold our wills, and transform our characters to be more like Jesus. Our job is to be open to the Spirit's leading and to keep our eyes on Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18).
PrayerHold my focus, O Lord, on your Son. I know as I look to him and seek to know him and be like him, your Spirit will mold me and transform me. Thank you for the assurance that you will never leave me or forsake me and that nothing can separate me from your love. I pledge to keep my heart open to you and your Spirit's influence in my life. Thank you! In Jesus name. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
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— Ezekiel 39:29 nlt
ThoughtGod speaks of the coming of his New Covenant relationship with his people. One dynamic of that covenant is that the Spirit will be part of a permanent relationship with them. Paul speaks powerfully of this in Romans 8 (esp. vs. 32-39). Unlike God's leaders before Jesus who had the Spirit for a time for specific challenges or until they rebelled against him, God's new covenant people were to have his Spirit permanently and continually and they would all have the Spirit — read Acts 2 to see this emphasis at Pentecost. Never again will he turn his face from his people. His Spirit will never depart from us. We can oppose, resist, grieve, and quench the Spirit, but God's Spirit stays to soften our hearts, mold our wills, and transform our characters to be more like Jesus. Our job is to be open to the Spirit's leading and to keep our eyes on Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18).
PrayerHold my focus, O Lord, on your Son. I know as I look to him and seek to know him and be like him, your Spirit will mold me and transform me. Thank you for the assurance that you will never leave me or forsake me and that nothing can separate me from your love. I pledge to keep my heart open to you and your Spirit's influence in my life. Thank you! In Jesus name. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
