Forgiven, Part 8: Change

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come. 'Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.' So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 
2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 36:26, Ephesians 3:17-19

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When we come to Jesus in our brokenness and need, He receives us as we are, but because He loves us He doesn't want to leave us that way. He has come to make all things new.

His path is a path of hope. His way is a way of change. He doesn't just forgive us, He cleanses us...He doesn't just receive us, He indwells us...He doesn't just justify us, He gives us a new heart. He causes us to hate the things we used to love and love the things we used to hate. he changes us from the inside out. His Holy Spirit comes to live within us, we are born of God, and His love is shed abroad in our hearts. We begin to think as He thinks and feel as He feels. He removes our stone hearts—cold, hard, and unbending and gives us a heart of flesh—warm, tender, and yielding. He gives us a heart to love Him, adore Him, and enjoy Him. A heart of devotion...a heart of communion...a heart of compassion.

Through this change we become clay in the Potter's hands, formed into vessels as He wills...vessels that are honorable in the Master's house, fit for His use...vessels that are filled with the treasure of Jesus Christ.
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Lord,
Only You have the power to change me and the wisdom to know what is best for me. I am safe in Your keeping and secure in the knowledge that I am a new creation in Christ. Mold me and shape me into a vessel that will be pleasing in Your sight, then fill my heart with the love of Jesus Christ. 
Amen

Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019, DaySpring. Used with permission, all rights reserved.