Heartwashed:

A condition that occurs when one of God's created beings is restored to its original design of reflecting the glory of God. God accomplishes this by removing a heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh. He then cleanses that heart of flesh with living pure waters of His Holiness. The process is completed when God plants the Love of Christ in His beings so that they then desire to live to carry out the will of God instead of rebelling against it. (Ezekiel 36)

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Wisteria

1 Samuel 10:6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
1 Samuel 10:9 When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart

The Easter season down South is my favorite time of the year. We celebrate and adore our Risen King, as flowers burst to fullness of life. One of my favorites is the lavendar colored Wisteria, which rapidly grows as its vines expand its territory. It is one of my favorites because of its beauty and lively aroma. Wisteria also reminds me of the innocence and simplicity of my childhood as I remember playing among the abundance of Wisteria that literally covered the roadsides of my mom's home town of Tyler, Al. Around Easter each year something amazing happens to a Wisteria vine. The vines that are a drab neutral color suddenly burst open with a vibrant life that looks and smells fantastic. It is impossible to notice the bringing fourth of life that occurs if you are near.

While reading through 1 Samuel this morning, God really stopped me dead in my tracks as I read what happened to Saul as he was anointed as king. Verse 6 says that the spirit's anointing literally changes him into another man. Verse 9 says that God gave him another heart. The spirit of God descends and anoints Saul and it turns him into a new man with a new heart.

2 Corinthians 5:17 is an almost identical description of a Christ follower: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. As we submit to Christ the spirit indwells us permanently, which has the same permanent effect on us that the temporary anointing had on Saul. It is impossible for a perfect God in spirit to show up and not totally renew us and regenerate us into a newness of life. I think that is what I missed growing up in Church. I really believed what everyone was saying and preaching and wanted to do the right thing, but I guess I was more interested in being converted to a way of thinking that true newness of life. I receive regenerated newness of life at age 34 long after I knew what to say and when to say it.

If you keep reading in Judges 10 you will see in verses 11-13 that everyone who knew Saul was baffled at God's new life in Him. The question of the day is this, "Is everyone amazed at the newness of His life in you?" Does life and beauty spring fourth like rivers of living water from your soul and affect everyone around you?
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1 comment:

  1. AmeliaApril 8, 2010 at 4:44 PM

    I have always thought it is amazing how God can give you a new heart....a brand new heart....as long as you pursue Him and allow Him to do His amazing work. Thanks for sharing.

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