READ: EZEKIEL 36:26-27
I look out my window and see olive-drab goldfinches on the feeders. In March, the males will become a beautiful canary yellow. Funny thing about these finches, they don’t really change colors; they molt. In the spring, when the sunlight is just right, colorful yellow feathers will push out the dull, greenish brown feathers until the goldfinch looks completely different.
This reminds me of how Holy Spirit works in our lives. God didn’t say, “I’m going to fix your heart by tweaking it a little here and adjusting it until it becomes good.” God said, “I will take out the old and put in a new heart that can know and desire Me.” At the moment of salvation, God removes our heart of stone, the heart cold and dark toward God. Our spring has come, a new Light has come. And as we live and move in relationship with Christ, people see us differently. Our new feathers—the ones we develop during our walk with Christ as we walk in His light—they are the colors of patience, kindness, gentleness, and forgiveness. And when God is done changing us, we will look a lot like Jesus.
I look out my window and see olive-drab goldfinches on the feeders. In March, the males will become a beautiful canary yellow. Funny thing about these finches, they don’t really change colors; they molt. In the spring, when the sunlight is just right, colorful yellow feathers will push out the dull, greenish brown feathers until the goldfinch looks completely different.
This reminds me of how Holy Spirit works in our lives. God didn’t say, “I’m going to fix your heart by tweaking it a little here and adjusting it until it becomes good.” God said, “I will take out the old and put in a new heart that can know and desire Me.” At the moment of salvation, God removes our heart of stone, the heart cold and dark toward God. Our spring has come, a new Light has come. And as we live and move in relationship with Christ, people see us differently. Our new feathers—the ones we develop during our walk with Christ as we walk in His light—they are the colors of patience, kindness, gentleness, and forgiveness. And when God is done changing us, we will look a lot like Jesus.
– Dr. Tim Thompson