April 12, 2022 – Create in Me a Clean Heart!

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12.

King David, despite being a warrior, a shepherd of sheep, was plagued with sins in His life. It is not what he does that endears him in God’s Love, but that he confesses his sin… and worships God. Later, Paul wrote in Romans 3:23-24. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Reading in the 15th chapter of Leviticus, the many times uncleanness is identified. They did not have the gift of Salvation from Jesus, but their forgiveness was through washing of water, sacrifices of pure animals, and times of uncleanness and waiting as prescribed by the Laws of Moses. Then Jesus came to be our sacrifice on the cross for our sins.

Proverbs 29:18 provides clarification between one who obeys God and those who disobey. Where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. How can we find the blessedness of peace? But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34.

There is a difference between good or evil, clean or dirty, love or hate, peace and rage. We make a choice in how we live in our actions and our words.  Will we follow the Joy of Righteousness or carry a guilty conscience with no Joy?  Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Psalm 32:10.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:8-9.

What is the delight of your heart? Righteousness or on the edge and beyond of wickedness? Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Truth, the Light, and Way. Following Jesus means we will be cared for and know the Truth. His Light shows us the way. Following Jesus gives us Hope and we sing… My Life is in You, Lord, My Strength is in You Lord, My Hope is in You, Lord, in You…

Jesus knew when it was not time, and He knew when it was time, and He knew His Now. How aware are we of the seasons we go through, according to the purposes God planned for us long ago, before we were?

I often think of the song, “I Did It My Way.” That song is the ultimate ‘me’ song, erasing God’s will in our lives. Gone from our minds is the commandment, “Love one another!”

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11.

Jesus knew when His hour had come to be glorified (crucified), and He died on the cross with the last words, “It is finished!” He taught loving others by giving His Life for us and He was raised from the grave after three days.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

           Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:13-14.

What must we do to inherit salvation and live for an eternity with our Father and Lord Jesus?  And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us. Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in Him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. I John 3:23-24.

What instructions did Jesus give to His Disciples before leaving the earth to sit at the right hand of God? And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.

Teaching all tribes and all nations. I met a girl from China and she heard the gospel message one Sunday morning. Afterward, she came to me to ask, “Is this for me, too?” Her question stung me and I continue to think of her often in the last nearly twenty years. I had never thought about how the love of Jesus being for all tribes and nations and how the good news of Jesus is just that – Good News, bringing Hope to all who hear.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21.

            Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 2 Corinthians 5:11-12.