Ezekiel 44:7-8 – “You have brought uncircumcised foreigners into my sanctuary—people who have no heart for God. In this way, you defiled my Temple even as you offered me my food, the fat and blood of sacrifices. In addition to all your other detestable sins, you have broken my covenant. Instead of safeguarding my sacred rituals, you have hired foreigners to take charge of my sanctuary.”
The verses highlighted for today present some interesting ideas, particularly in light of Jesus’ life and the New Testament. When Jesus came, “uncircumcised foreigners” were suddenly allowed into God’s family, and not everyone could wrap their heads around that. Acts 15 gives a great summary of that debate.
What I find interesting here is that the qualifier for the “uncircumcised foreigners” is “people who have no heart for God.” In Acts 15, it is clear that Gentiles received the Holy Spirit and their hearts were more for God than some Jews who rejected Jesus as the Messiah. God’s people have abandoned him more than once. Here they broke their relationship with God, in the New Testament many Jews/Israelites rejected Jesus, and today many who call themselves “Christians” have no heart for God.
Here’s your freedom for today:
God is intimately connected with your heart.
Whether you want him to or not, God knows your heart. Some might find that encouraging, and others perhaps find it intrusive. Ultimately, it’s not about what family you come from or what you call yourself. You either act like Jesus or you don’t. You either welcome relationship with God or you don’t. Your relationship with God may have its ups and downs, but in the end if you are not seeking him you will not find him. The Israelites demonstrated that many times. In the end, when Jesus came, a whole lot of them totally missed God. When he comes again, will we know him?