By A. Trevor Sutton
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26 ESV).
Transforming raw stone into a magnificent sculpture requires skill, precision, and exceptional ability. A hammer and chisel in the hands of a novice results in nothing more than shards of broken marble on the floor. A hammer and chisel in the hands of a master craftsman, however, produces a stunningly perfect creation. It is incredible to consider how a master craftsman can transform a slab of cold marble into an impressive sculpture.
God is a Master Craftsman when it comes to chiseling away at hearts of stony sin. The divine Sculptor carves away at our brokenness with skill, precision, and exceptional ability. He alone is able to take the slab of rock that is our heart and transform it into an entirely new creation. Regret and guilt are pitched away as God hews us into a new creation in Jesus.
Rather than using a hammer and chisel, God used a hammer and nails as his Son hung on the cross. God uses these tools to bust through the sin and death that petrifies our hearts. The sin that once surrounded us has now been chipped away, swept away, and thrown away for all eternity by our Lord. Where sin once resided, the Holy Spirit now dwells and gives us life!
But, don’t forget—we can never consider the sculpture without also recognizing the sculptor. The most magnificent marble sculptures in all the world—David in Florence, Moses in Rome, the Pietà in the Vatican—would not exist apart from the sculptor. Apart from Michelangelo, these would still be nothing more than slabs of marble. Creations always depend upon their creator.
In the same way, those who have been crafted in Jesus always give glory to him. Apart from Jesus, we would be nothing more than a slab of stony sin. Apart from Jesus, we would still be trapped, living as the old Adam (Ephesians 4:22–24). Apart from Jesus, we would have nothing. We give glory and praise to God, the Rock of our salvation, because he alone has taken a slab of rock and transformed it into a new creation!
Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you alone are the Master Craftsman who is able to transform me into a new creation. Chip away at my heart of stone so that . . .
Editor’s note: Today’s devotion is from CTA’s The Lord Is My Rock Softcover Devotion Book.
