May 11 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

These readings focus on the Holy Spirit. In the Old Covenant (or Testament), the Spirit "anoints" one person here and one there to perform a special work for God. In the New Covenant, the Spirit is "poured out" like rain on the whole church of Christ.

Bible Reading:

Ezekiel 36:24–28

Bible Text:

" 'I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart' " (Ezek. 36:25–26).

Devotional:

God spoke through Jeremiah and Ezekiel in the dying days of Judah and Jerusalem. Jeremiah experienced the end of Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God and his people. Ezekiel lived as an exile in Babylon, a city of the Gentiles.

Both prophets had the unpopular task of telling their fellow Jews about the inescapable judgment of God. They crushed Jewish hopes for a last-minute salvation or an early return to Jerusalem. Instead the unthinkable happened: The glory of God departed from Israel, and the beloved city was looted.

However, the two prophets did more than lament the deserved lot of the people. On behalf of their Sender, they spoke of a future revival. Jeremiah called it a New Covenant; Ezekiel described it as a second birth.

Some Christians say these promises of the return of God's favor have yet to be fulfilled, because they are given in terms of a renewal of the ancient people in the ancient city. But that interpretation is mistaken. God's deeds in the New Testament show what he himself intended.

The washing with water and the renewal of hearts mentioned in today's passage indicate the re-creation of the people of God. We know what that means, because we have experienced it. The washing was done with the blood of Jesus, which removed our guilt. It broke the power of sin. And the Holy Spirit changed our hearts to love the Lord.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.