The Heart of the Matter

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." — Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)

Maybe it’s a sign of where I am in life, but it seems every third person I know has had some kind of heart procedure—stents, pacemakers, valve replacements. One friend even received a new heart. Thanks to God’s gifts, there are medical devices, skilled surgeons, and life-saving interventions that restore our hearts and extend our physical lives. But in today’s verse, God promises something even more radical: a new spiritual heart.

This promise from Ezekiel is spoken to a people in exile—dislocated, disobedient, and spiritually numb. Their hearts had grown cold, calcified by idolatry and injustice. And yet, God does not abandon them. Instead, God initiates a transformation that they cannot accomplish on their own. “I will give you…” says the Lord. Not “you will earn” or “you will achieve,” but “I will give.” This is pure grace.

And what does God pour into this new heart? Not just feeling, but divine love itself. As Paul writes in Romans 5:5, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…” The heart of flesh is not merely soft—it is Spirit-filled, love-soaked, and ready to respond.

The heart of stone is not just stubborn—it’s lifeless. It resists compassion, avoids repentance, and cannot respond to the Spirit’s promptings. But the heart of flesh is tender, alive, and open. It feels the weight of mercy. It beats with love for the neighbor. It pulses with the rhythm of God’s justice.

While our physical tickers may be fine—blood flowing where and when it needs to go—we all have to do regular check-ups on our spiritual tickers.

Much as the doctor listens to our hearts for regularity, and examines our EKG, we must self-examine:

• Where in my life has my heart grown hard—toward others, toward myself, toward God?

• Where are the places where numbness has crept in, where cynicism has taken root?

  
  

Today, God offers not a repair but a replacement. A new heart. A new spirit. Not by our striving, but by God’s perfect grace.

Receive it. Let the Spirit do what only the Spirit can do. Let God’s love soften what has grown rigid. Let divine compassion flow through you again.

God of mercy, I confess the places where my heart has grown hard. I cannot change myself, but you can. Remove my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh—alive to your Spirit, tender toward others, and open to your grace. Let my life beat with your love. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim

Note: I will take a brief respite from publishing, resuming on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.