Hearts of Stone

Today I read Ezekiel 9:3-12:7 and Hebrews 13:22-James 1:17. My favorite verses are:

Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Have you ever known anyone who was hard-hearted? The kind of person who has no compassion or love for anyone could be said to have a heart of stone. It may be someone who has been hurt by others and has hardened his heart to keep from being hurt again. In the world we live in, there is so much pain and suffering that we may become hardened by the familiarity of it. We see it constantly in the media and in situations around us and know that we cannot make it better. It seems that what little we can do to alleviate suffering is so miniscule that it barely makes a dent in the mountain of need we are confronted with. So we may all be guilty of having stony hearts to a certain extent. God can restore a heart of flesh—a soft and caring heart. He wants us to be like Him; He wants to be our God if we will obey and serve Him. God wants to give us good and perfect gifts; everything good comes from Him. If we are His children and obey His will in our lives, we will receive good things from Him. Then we can share them with those around us and soften stony hearts.