Saint Louis, Missouri, United States - Lutheran Hour Ministries 2014 Daily Lenten Devotion "MELTED HEARTS" Friday, 28 March 2014 Read Ezekiel 11:14-21

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States - Lutheran Hour Ministries 2014 Daily Lenten Devotion "MELTED HEARTS" Friday, 28 March 2014 Read Ezekiel 11:14 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 15 “Son of man, your brothers, even your brothers, the men of your relatives, and all the house of Israel, all of them, to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Go far away from Yahweh. This land has been given to us for a possession.’” 16 Therefore say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they have come. 17 Therefore say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. 18 They shall come there, and they shall take away all the detestable things of it and all its abominations from there. 19 I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh; 20 that they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for them whose heart walks after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their way on their own heads, says the Lord Yahweh.

TEXT: My heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast (see Psalm 22:14).

Sin hardens our hearts, turning them to stone. We will never see that more clearly than in the case of Jesus' enemies who coldly and callously abused, ridiculed, taunted and tormented Him in His agony. We have that same stone-cold heart when we see our neighbor suffering and in need and feel no pity, no concern for his or her plight.

Jesus' tender heart, His inmost soul, is melting under the fiery wrath of God. That same tender heart had taken pity and moved Jesus to cleanse lepers, heal the deaf, blind, mute and paralyzed, cast out demons, and offer compassion to lost and wandering crowds. This heart which has never turned hard or calloused now bleeds as it is blasted by the fiery wrath of God for our hard-heartedness.

Jesus was heartbroken by friends who betrayed, denied and fled from Him. He had to deal with enemies who persecuted Him and dogged His every step; chief priests and Jewish leaders who sought His death; a Roman governor who abandoned Him to their will; and crowds that mocked and taunted His agony on the cross. But more than anything, His heart was broken by His Father's turning His back on Him, and unleashing His fury on His only begotten Son-the Lamb of God who was taking away the sin of the world.

What heart can see such love in action and not soften in response? Who can see all his or her sins laid on Jesus, see the great agony and sacrifice He endured for them, and not be moved to tears of repentance, thankfulness and faith by our Savior's great heart and sacrifice?

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, You sacrificed Your body, heart, mind and soul to win our salvation. Melt our hearts in repentance and faith. Amen.  

-------

Lutheran Hour Ministries

660 Mason Ridge Center

St. Louis, MO 63141 United States

-------