The other night I read a passage from Ezekiel that gives a clear picture of God’s redemption and His work to renew us (Ez 36:22-28). This was a promise to Israel, but it is also a promise to us: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal 3:29)

The LORD reminds us that what He does is not done for our sake, but for His “holy name’s sake” (v 22); He “will sanctify [His] great name” and “the nations shall know that [He is] the Lord… when [He is] hallowed in you before their eyes” (v 23); He “will cleanse you from all your filthiness” (v 25); He will put “a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (v26); He will “put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (v27); then we “shall be [His] people, and [He] will be [our] God” (v28). 

The Scripture we read yesterday is a confirmation of this passage: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Phil 2:12b-13)

What is His good pleasure? That His name be sanctified (used properly) and that He is hallowed (revered, respected, and we keep the name of our holy God sacred) in us before others. Others see that He is our God and we are His people. There’s no doubt. How can they see it? We “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Rom 13:14); we seek Him first and walk in the Spirit He put in us to create us anew, “created according to God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:23-24).

That means we are obedient to His Word and the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us. We “do” because He is within us, giving us all the strength and desire “to do” what He wants us to do, which is to glorify Him in both body and spirit.

I’m currently reading “Horizontal Jesus” by Tony Evans, where it says “When God sees our faith demonstrated in our feet, He responds”. Yesterday I was obedient; I put in action my faith and the Lord responded. First, I did what He told me to do for His kingdom. I prayed asking anew that He give me a job where I can work for His glory, and I applied for about 7 jobs. I reached out to friends to see what I could do for them, and then I went about my day, feeling renewed. I received a call on one of the jobs, and I have an interview this morning. I don’t know if anything will come from this particular interview, but I knew it was confirmation from the Lord that He does respond when He sees a demonstration of our faith. He’s not looking for those who “talk the talk”; He wants us to visibly “walk the walk”.