And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:27 (ESV)
I headed off to the Nordstrom Summer Sale with my list—the one Mel sent me with some “ideas” for Christmas for the family. As I wandered around the girl’s section, I could only find one thing on the list. Frustrated, I headed to the counter where a young sales girl asked me if I had any questions. Did I? I handed her my list and as she looked it over, she told me, “I will handle this and have them sent to your home—no charge.” Within 10 minutes, I was walking out of the department with my problems solved, even for other family members.
As a long-distance grandmother, I endeavor to stay in contact with my grandgirlies. I send them cards and emails, chat on Skype, and talk on the telephone. But as with all phone conversations, interruptions occur and the call must be returned. I always tell my girls, “I will call you back”…maybe it’s in a few minutes or it might be an hour. But I know that if I’m to have any integrity with them, I must keep my word. They may not be available when I return the call but they know I tried.
Today’s sermon reminded me of God’s integrity with His children. As I read Ezekiel 36:24-30, I counted eleven times that God says, “I will.” He promised a future, cleansing from sin, a new heart, His Spirit, to be their God, and to provide for His people’s needs.
How many times during the course of a day, does “I will” come out of our mouth? I will meet you for lunch at noon. I will call and set up that appointment. I will pray for you. Do we follow through? Do people know they can count on us to do what we say we will do?
I’m so thankful that embedded in the middle of this passage, is our verse for today. We don’t have to do it alone. He has given us His Spirit to help us walk in His ways so that our word is true. Yes, “I will” because He is there to help me and I can count on His integrity.