"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God" Ezekiel 36:25-28.
It was an inside job. The window had been left unlocked by someone at the Midweek service, and they later returned to steal a new piece of sound equipment. Only someone with inside information would know where the equipment was, and be able to efficiently access and steal it as they did.
On a decidedly more positive note, it took an inside job to get us on the path to the kingdom of God. Per God's message through Ezekiel, the "inside job" involves purification with water, redirected worship, a heart and mind "transplant", Spirit enabling for the purpose of obedience, hope of an inheritance, and adoption into God's family.
The "inside job" in my life began with the cleansing of water baptism at the age of seventeen. A well of Spirit life began to flow, which continues to provide daily refreshing and life. It has taken some time to recognize the inner voice of God through the Spirit, but the voice is clearer now than it has ever been. The Spirit of the living God is actively working to keep my heart responsive to teachings and directives, and to remind me of Whose I am and where I'm headed.
If you have responded to the gospel invitation, you too can testify to God's amazing "inside job" in your life. He has set you on the path to the kingdom of God. His kingdom reign began with inner transformation, and it continues today. As you and I daily pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," the kingdom grows both within us and and in the world. As we await the visible fullness of the kingdom, which can only come at Jesus' appearing, we are directed by the internal Spirit to participate in kingdom plans and preparations today. We are called to serve as His "advance people", much like John the Baptist, as we prepare the way for greatest transformation that the world ever has or ever will see.
©Steve Taylor, 2023 --Used by permission
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