May 9, 2019

A Heart Of Stone No More

May 9, 2019

DAILY READING

Ezekiel 11:1-25
This weekend’s reading: Exodus 20:12

FIELD NOTES

Ezekiel can be a tough book to read.  Like the New Testament book of Revelation, which borrows heavily from Ezekiel, the story is full of visions full of spectacular images and metaphors.  But it also, and Revelation too, contains these nuggets of truth from God on which we can depend.  Verses 19-20 are that for me.
 
“I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them.  Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
 
God desires to be with us and is willing to put in the work to lead us into transformation, so we can have lives that testify to God’s ways.  I pray you know what it’s like to be of one heart and full of the Spirit of God.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD 

  • What do you think God means by “follow my statutes and keep my ordinances”?  Where might grace play a role in this transformation between a heart of stone and a tender heart?

FAMILY FIELD TALK 

  • What are some good qualities of a stone (keep in mind that Peter’s name means Rock)?  Why might a heart of stone be a bad thing?  How does it make you feel to know that God wants to be your God?

PRAYER GUIDE

God of unity and transformation, I surrender all so that you may bring about change in my life.  Give me your spirit and a heart that is the response to it’s leading.  Amen.