A Pure Heart
Scripture
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10, LSB
Quote
Tis Thine to cleanse the heart, to sanctify the soul, to pour fresh life in every part and recreate the whole.
~Joseph Hart
My Thoughts
Some of my preacher friends don’t like to read Martin Lloyd Jones; they say he is too wordy. I do understand what they are saying but the man connects with me and no one seems to know me like he does. It simular to reading the Psalms of David. When it comes to the Beatitude, “Blessed are the pure in heart,” We want a pure heart but we can’t bring this about without divine intervention. Some think we must become monks to achieve this pureness of heart; we think if we can only segregate ourselves from the world, we can become pure but this does not work. We have all read the horror stories of things that go on at monasteries. The truth is–we cannot make the heart pure. Our only hope of having a pure heart is Jesus. He can do things that are impossible for us. David realized that his heart was bad and he prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” Note this is a prayer and David is asking God to purify his heart. We can try as hard as we like to do this ourselves but at the end of the day, our heart is as black and filthy as it was before we tried to clean it. In some cases, it may be blacker. David understood that only God could create in him a pure heart.
I have a hope that God by His marvelous grace will make my heart pure. Paul’s words in Philippians 1:6 encourage me…For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Paul also said in Philippians 2:13…For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found: dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne. I know that God is working in me but the progress seems to be slow and I have a hard time visualizing myself as being faultless. But I am reminded: I cannot create a star or give life to a single thing, not even a tadpole but what is impossible for me, it not impossible with God. Nothing is impossible with God. We must trust His wisdom and timing.
Extra
Another chilly morning but a heat wave is headed our way. It is going to get up to 45* today. Then tomorrow the Polar Express {arctic blast} comes rolling in which will make Saturday and Sunday brutal. In view of the coming cold weather, I will be trying to do a few things outside today. I hope you have a good day and thanks for reading the blog.
Extra/Extra
Paul’s Exhortation to the church at Thessalonica
- Honor those who are your leaders in the LORD’s work
- Live in peace with each other
- Warn {admonish} those who are lazy
- Encourage those who are timid
- Take tender care of the weak
- Be patient with everyone
- See that no one pays back evil for evil
- Always try to do good to each other and all people
- Always be joyful
- Never stop praying
- Be thankful in all circumstances
- Do not quench or stifle the Holy Spirit
- Do not scoff at prophecies {sermons}
- Test everything
- Hold to the good
- Stay away from every kind of evil