Hard as a Marshmallow

Have you ever bitten into a s’more that looked perfect on the outside… only to discover the marshmallow inside was stale and hard? Or maybe it was underdone, leaving the chocolate unmelted and the graham cracker crumbling in your lap. Or maybe you went for that dramatic flaming toast and ended up with something burnt and bitter that overpowered the whole treat. (And maybe burned your tongue) Here’s the thing: The marshmallow can make or break the s’more. This Sunday, we’ll open Ezekiel 36:22–26 and hear God’s promise to take hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh — hearts that are alive, tender, and responsive. Could it be that the “consistency” of our hearts has just as much to do with whether our faith holds together as the marshmallow has to do with holding together a s’more? And here’s the real question: What kind of marshmallow heart are you bringing to God these days? If God examined your heart right now, would your heart be hard and brittle, underdeveloped, burnt with overzealousness, or soft and ready for the Holy Spirit’s work?