What are the worst problems you see in the world, today?

Would you say racism, greed, abuse, or something else?

How do we end such horrible practices?

There are plenty of solutions offered by talking heads, politicians, and our chatty neighbor, but the truth is that all the solutions in the world can’t fix what these issues truly are…a heart problem.

Ezekiel was a prophet to Israel at a time when Israel had been exiled from the Promised Land. God’s own chosen people were exiled from the land God had given them and God had allowed this to happen! Why?

Israel had turned away from God and, instead, were worshiping idols.

We can all probably understand why God would cause His chosen people to be exiled. They had betrayed Him like an unfaithful spouse or a fake friend.

Yet, God continued to provide a way to make things right. How amazing is that? Israel turned away from God to worship hand-made idols of stone and wood and, yet, He continues to plead with Israel to return to Him. Repent and live!

God is offering them a new heart and a new spirit, His Spirit.

God still does!

This is true today for us as well. If we turn away from God, He is always working to bring us back to Him. Sure, we may not worship idols of wood and stone, but here in the U.S. we have plenty of our own idols.

We may worship…

• Money
• Pleasure
• Power
• Fill in the blank

God warns us not to turn away from Him and not to put these things above Him. Yet, people do, even those who believe in Jesus still struggle with trusting other things over God.

Perhaps the solution to many of these problems in our world aren’t found in new policies or marches, but in the Gospel. It is only through the Gospel that people’s hearts will be changed. There will still be sin in the world, even in the heart of the believer, but there is also forgiveness for the believer and God’s Spirit working and living in their hearts.

God Offers Us a New Heart
What a wonderful message we have that, in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. That’s why we keep coming back to the cross, back to the ultimate place where God provided the way, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, for us to rid ourselves of all our offenses and get a new heart and a new spirit!!

Heavenly Father,

As I look at the world, today, it breaks my heart to see so many suffering and such horrible things being done. I ask that You would cause Your Gospel to go forth and change the hearts and minds of people towards You. Help me to be a part of that great witness and continue to turn my heart to You.

Amen.