A Clean Heart

Have you ever met someone you would consider to be a snob? There was just something so condescending about the person, but you could not figure out why. They say that confession is good for the soul. Well, I was a big spiritual snob. I could look down upon those who did not know the Bible or serve God as legalistically as I did. 

I can hardly believe I just shared this publicly! Truly, God has been at work. I have no idea how I ended up that way, but I thank God that He circumcised my heart. This confession comes after readingRomans 2:1-3CloseRomans 2:1-3 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) :

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? (NASB1995).

This Scripture took away all excuses! Is it even possible to say one loves Jesus and looks down upon someone else?

InPsalms 51:1-4ClosePsalms 51:1-4 Have mercy on me, O God,  because of your unfailing love.Because of your great compassion,  blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt.  Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion;  it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;  I have done what is evil in your sight.You will be proved right in what you say,  and your judgment against me is just.* OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , we see a penitent King David:

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.

God has been gracious to me too. He took me by the hand and led me out of the darkness into the light. Holy Spirit’s conviction brought me to that place of “sackcloth and ashes.” King David tried to cover up his sin. Far be it from me to judge him, but I can relate with his agony inPsalms 51:10-11ClosePsalms 51:10-11 Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence,  and don't take your Holy Spirit* from me. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) because I have been there too:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

David must have been terrified about the thought of life without the Spirit of God, and so am I. The Lord already knows all the skeletons in our closets, and He still loves us! Confession really is good for the soul. It cuts the enemy off and helps us find our way to Jesus.

When I tried to wash my sins away in the shower, it did not work. A “broken and contrite spirit,” and a heart of “repentance” can set us free from a plethora of maladies. We can all come before the Lord with humility. He will not turn us away. This reality has washed away that stain of sin I foolishly tried to cleanse in the shower!

Let us pray: Father God, deliver us from judging others and any ill-treatment of one another. Circumcise our hearts that we may please You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen! 

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Scripture is quoted from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.