Now bring all the people of Israel to Mount Carmel, with all 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who are supported by Jezebel."
So Ahab summoned all the people and the prophets to Mount Carmel.
Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, "How long are you going to waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!" But the people were completely silent. (I Kings 18: 19-20, NLT)
Last night, my professor described his experience of receiving a new heart through a heart transplant. He compared it to receiving a new heart from God. I finished reading his book last week; however, hearing his words brought a whole new dimension to his story. He explained that the recipient of the heart legally can't look for their own donor because there is a system in place to match the donor's heart to the recipient's heart. When the donor died, the heart and other organs were offered as a gift. My professor . . . near death . . . his heart barely functioning . . . had to simply accept or decline the offer of the new heart. After receiving the new heart, he has had to take medications and follow the doctor's prescribed way of living to maintain his health.
While I can't come close to telling my professor's story the way he did . . . in reality this is God's story . . . our story . . . sin separates humanity from God, creating an unhealthy heart and life. Humanity can't receive a new heart through their own doing . . . it is God's doing.
Christ . . . God with us . . . gave his life . . . out of love . . . so that we could receive a new heart . . . and experience a new life . . . energized . . . excited . . . alive. All we can do is say yes to a new heart and live the way God has prescribed in order to be healthy and whole. It is the story . . . that is revealed through God's Word.
Look at the story of Elijah and King Ahab. Elijah faced the King and his followers, confronting them, declaring the need for a relationship with God. They simply needed to make a decision . . . the rest was God's doing.
And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart.(Ezekiel 36:26, NLT)
We are offered a new heart . . . new and right desires . . . a new spirit . . . an incredible life story.
Determine what your story is today.
Live out the story.
Celebrate a life lived with a new heart.
Live life to the fullest . . . alive in Christ.
Learning with you to live out the story of all stories,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)
