A New Heart, a Real Relationship
Month 6: The Cross — Why Jesus Died · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: Romans 8:15-16 & Ezekiel 36:26-27
15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. — Romans 8:15-16
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. — Ezekiel 36:26-27
Memory Verse
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”— Romans 5:1 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: 1 Kings 15–16; 2 Chronicles 13–16
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time.The Heart of It
The cross does more than wipe our record clean. It gives us a brand-new heart and a real relationship with God. Long ago God promised through Ezekiel: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you" (). A stone heart can't love God. A soft, living heart can. And the One who softens it is the Holy Spirit. He is given to everyone who belongs to Jesus. This is exactly what Jesus died and rose to do. Not merely to forgive us, but to make us new from the inside.
So now we don't relate to God as frightened slaves. We relate to Him as beloved children. "You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'" (). Abba is the tender, trusting word a small child uses for a daddy. And the Holy Spirit Himself "bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (v. 16). He whispers assurance to our hearts that we truly belong. The Spirit-filled life isn't cold rule-keeping. It's a warm, living relationship with a Father who delights in us, powered by His Spirit living within.
Around the Table
When we trust Jesus, God's Spirit gives us a soft new heart. And we get to call God "Daddy"!
Let's do it: Pat your chest and say, "God, You gave me a new heart. You're my good Father!"
The Holy Spirit lives in us. He helps us know we really belong to God as His children.
Let's talk: What's the difference between obeying because you're scared and obeying because you're loved?
Ezekiel promised God would put His Spirit within us. That came true when the Spirit came to live in believers.
Let's go deeper: The Spirit assures you that you are God's child. How does knowing that change the way you pray and live?
💬 Conversation Starter
What's a special name you call someone you love and trust? God lets His children call Him "Abba" — like "Daddy."
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Why think Christianity actually changes people, instead of just teaching rules? Because believers across every culture and every century report the same inner change. A softened heart. New desires. Freedom from old chains. That is exactly what Ezekiel predicted centuries before Christ. Changed lives are evidence you can see.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Classic Pentecostal teaching takes and seriously. The indwelling Spirit is not a distant doctrine but a present, experiential reality. The Spirit assures your children of their adoption, and He grows the fruit of Christlike character in them. But notice the order. The new heart comes first, as God's gift. Then Spirit-empowered obedience flows out of that relationship (). This guards us from both dead religion and hollow hype. It's character over performance, and relationship over rule-keeping. As a father, your own walk in the Spirit is the model your kids will study most closely. Are you relating to God as "Abba," or merely managing a religion? Ask the Father to make the relationship real and warm in your home.
Draws on: Robert Menzies, on the Spirit and the believer's new life.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You for giving us new hearts and Your Holy Spirit. Help us know, deep down, that we are Your beloved children. Make our relationship with You real and warm today. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus gave me a new heart and His Spirit — I get to call God "Father."