Ezra 9:5-6 “5 At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God. 6 And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.”

When Ezra heard that the returning Jews (from the Babylonian exile) had intermarried thus making them guilty of unfaithfulness, he stated in Ezra 9: 4 that he was astonished (appalled in the NIV).  Even though Ezra, himself, was not guilty of unfaithfulness, as their leader of the nation of Israel at that time, he was washed with the same broad brush of unfaithfulness as a people called to be sanctified (holy) unto God. What Ezra does in response to receiving the news of intermarrying is true repentance. He was immediately made aware of sin!  So aware that he tears his clothes and falls down on his knees and prayed to God.  Indeed, Ezra’s response and actions were evident of a sincere repentant heart concerning a sin (before a holy, righteous and just God) that he took very seriously.

The victorious road back to restoration and reconciliation from the throws of sexual immorality is not without repentance and enduring the consequences of our choices.  For sure, trust is destroyed and has to be earn if one is married.  Married or single, the return to our First Love (Jesus the Son of God) has to begin with a changed heart.  Invariably, the question will be asked, “How I can I know that you’ve changed”?  The answer, God has provided in Matthew chapter 7 when He states Matthew 7:16–20 “¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (italics and underline are mine).

The fruit of a changed heart is the subject of this blog.  Often, I am asked by a betrayed spouse; “How will I know if there has been genuine change in the heart of my spouse?”  Or the guilty spouse will ask , what do I tell my wife or husband when they ask , “How can trust or know for sure that you’ve changed?”    Without a doubt, recognizing a changed heart is the six million-dollar question!

Words and platitudes will never suffice for genuine repentance that is evidenced by humiliation and contrition.  Contrition is defined as “Penitence; deep sorrow for sin; grief of heart for having offended an infinitely holy and benevolent God. The word is usually understood to mean genuine penitence, accompanied with a deep sense of ingratitude (want of gratitude) in the sinner, and sincere resolution to live in obedience to the divine law” (Webster 1928 dictionary).  It is that desire to make right the wrong done before a Holy God who is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and witness all the actions of the heart.  For God has said, “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. ‘These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.’”

Psalm 36: 1-4 are powerful verses concerning mans’ wickedness and God’s perfection.  In these verses the word abhor is found (verse 4).  To abhor is to reject or loathe one’s sin. The sinner must loathe or reject his sin!  All too often, we are more remorseful (that is to say, we are sorry) for our sins as opposed to hating or loathing our sin to the extent that we own our sin and find our sin not just offensive to our love ones but we see our sin as God sees them and thus are appalled by our sinful deeds.

Application:  A changed heart is a heart of flesh that listens with the intent to obey His Word! (Ezekiel-27: 11: 19-20, 36: 26)

Why is this important?   (Dynamic Do-ables Dozen Matthew 7: 24-27)

Evidence of a repentant heart should:

1. Produce fruit worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8). Fruit as in Galatians 5:22.

2. Hate or abhor evil (Psalm 36:4; Romans 12:9). As mentioned by Ezra in opening text.

3. Hunger and thirst for righteousness (Psalm 63:1; John 6: 33-35).

4. Demonstrate a body that is under control: (1 Corinthians 9: 26-27). Submissive and obedient to God and His Word.

5. Like King David, the Man of God should be quick to own one’s sin (Psalm 51: 4).

6. Peaceful not argumentative (Hebrew 12:14; Romans 12:18; 1 Peter 3:11).

7. Hunger for the things of God (Psalm 27:4; Psalm 1: 1-6).

8. Desire to obey God and do His will (Psalm 40:8). God always rewards obedience.
9. Allow God to become the authority in his or her life (1 Corinthians 11:3).

10. There should be evidence of Jesus (his character) living in the repentant believer (1 Corinthians 11:1). This is where the spouse can be the “fruit” inspector.

11. Quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger (James 1:19).

12. Controller of one’s anger, and not under the control of his or anger (Ephesians 4: 26-32).