For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 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. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. Ezekiel 36:24-28
As you remember all you’ve learned from God, the life of Jonah, the sailors and the Ninevites, pray these words from Scripture. As God leads you, pray or meditate on these verses for yourself, someone else, the church, our city, our country, our world.
For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 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. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:24-28)
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (Titus 3:3)
Lord we all have sinned, and fall short of your glory (Romans 3:23). Our hearts are prideful; our wills are stiff and bent in going our own direction. It grieves you to look upon our sin.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. (Titus 3:4)
We deserve death, but Jesus took our sin upon himself. We no longer face the wrath of your judgement. For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:23)
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5)
The Holy Spirit himself has interceded for us, opened our eyes to the truth, and changed our hearts. God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:6)
That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified. And it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)
Reading the life of Jonah, the prophet, makes me see my sin and long for a better prophet. And that is Jesus who died and rose again after three days. I am a sinner and know my sin deserves to be punished. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sin and rose again from the grave. I want to turn from my sin and trust in him alone as my Savior. Thank you, Jesus, for your forgiveness and life eternal through faith.
By Donna Burns
