A Day-by-day devotional

April 13, 2023

The earthworm

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 25-26

Scripture of the Day: Ezekiel 36:25-27

When we were kids, we had been told that hotdogs are made of earthworms. Each time it rains, earthworms come out from the ground in my city and it is a rather common sight to see a lot of them. It made me ask if I could also eat the earthworms I see on the ground. After all, hotdogs come from earthworms and I love hotdogs.

Being the curious girl that I was, I found out about cultured earthworms. So, I concluded that the earthworms that hotdogs were made of were the cultured ones.

Then came Zoology 101. Here, I learned that an earthworm has five aortic arches (hearts). If its posterior segment, way behind the clitellum (the bulge) is cut off, it has the ability to regenerate. Therefore, if one aortic arch gets broken, there would still be four remaining. The earthworm could leave the broken one behind, grow a new one and go on living. On top of that, they are also devoid of lacrimal glands.

By and large, that means that the earthworm could get its heart broken, get a new heart and go on living. It also never cries out tears. How then would you not want to be an earthworm?

The Lord promised Israel through the prophet Ezekiel that it would receive a new heart. Instead of a heart of stone which is disobedient and rebellious, it would have a heart of flesh, guided by God’s Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26).

That is not only true for Israel. It also holds true for us today. Our hearts would always be marred and tainted by heartaches, pain, rejection, abandonment, bitterness, unforgiveness, abuse, and many others. You might just want to cut it off from your body so you would not feel anymore pain. However, the Holy Spirit enables our hearts to be healed and renewed.

If you then have the Holy Spirit, no matter how many times your heart gets broken due to disappointments, it can and would always be restored.

Reflection: The bible tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9-10). So, do not let your heart deceive you about the healing, restoration and freedom you are hoping for. Our hope is in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to you right now with the current condition of my heart. You know the troubles and anxiety that lie therein. Heal and restore me according to your will and purpose. Thank you for a new heart. Amen.