I will share about Christian books I have read or listened to.
I will be sharing about my life before and after Christ. I will include stories about my pet and other pets I have encountered.
Is Your Heart Pure?
What do you think about when you hear the word pure?
Do you picture a tall glass of crystal clear water? A freshly washed load of white sheets? Or maybe someone who’s morally wholesome and good?
In the sixth of the beatitudes—a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom—Jesus said this:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:8 NIV
The word "pure" means clean or blameless, free from corruption or contamination, purified by fire, or unstained by guilt. None of us can truly be pure on our own—despite our best efforts.
Before Jesus showed up, the highest ranking Levitical priests were charged with ministering and mediating in the holiest spaces (inside the tabernacle in the wilderness and, later, the temple in Jerusalem)—where God’s presence dwelled on earth. But even they had to be purified over and over again.
Now, because of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross, He has paved the way for us. His blood covered our sins, and when we accept the sacrifice, He makes us pure. Now and forever, we can “come boldly to the throne of our gracious God,” where we can find mercy and grace when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16). Now, our bodies are the modern-day temples where God’s Spirit has chosen to dwell.
Being pure of heart is not about being perfect, but trusting in Jesus to purify our souls.
As Isaiah once prophesied…
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”
Isaiah 1:18 NLT
Have you been made pure by trusting in Jesus? Today can be your day. By believing in Him and trusting in Him, you become a new creation, pure and blameless through faith. He paid the price for you to be made pure. Do you receive it?
Want a Clean Heart?
King David made some great decisions, but he also made some terrible ones...
During his reign, David chose to abuse his power by taking the wife of one of his military leaders, and then arranging for him to die in battle. For someone who was considered “a man after God’s own heart,” David really messed up.
In 2 Samuel 12:13 we see David confess his sin against the Lord and in Psalm 51, we see his prayer to be made new:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 ESV
David failed. But God redeems. God restores. David still had to face the consequences of his decisions, but in that journey, God met him there.
If you want to be made new by God but believe that your past is too messed up, you can follow the path David showed us. Confess, repent, and ask God to make you new. You can even use David’s exact words as you pray: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within ...
