Purer in Heart, O God

One of the most painful statements I’ve ever heard as a Christian came from an unbeliever who spoke honestly from his observation of people he knew who called themselves Christians. He said, “The main difference I see between Christians and non-Christians is that Christians go to church on Sunday”. That is a sad commentary on a Christian life. That man did not see any more love or holiness in these “church people” than he did in atheists. Hopefully no one ever says or thinks that of you or me.
Our goal as Christians is NOT to act a little bit better than the moral atheist who lives next door. God wants His children to aim and shoot higher than that. Our goal is to be like Jesus – think, talk and live like Jesus did when He walked on this earth. That takes a lifetime of growing and changing because we have a lot of growing and changing to do; however, God will work through us in spite of our spiritually clumsy ways if we have a pure heart. The song Purer in Heart, O God states a biblical truth: We need God the Father to help us live like Jesus by sending the Holy Spirit into our hearts. We are to be holy and wholly devoted to him.
David wrote in Psalm 24:3-4, “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully”. In Psalm 51:10,17 David is repenting before God of his sin and makes these two powerful statements, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me…The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise”. Jesus said it very succinctly when He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Read I Samuel 16:1-7; I Peter 1:13-21; 2:11-12 and listen to Purer in Heart, O God.
https://youtu.be/US6aE7jjQ1I
1 Samuel 16:1-7

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Peter 1:13-21

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 2:11-12

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Walnut Hill Church of Christ
10550 Marsh Lane
Dallas, TX 75229
(214) 351-3731
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  9:00 a.m. - Bible Classes
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MONDAY
12 Step Drug & Alcohol Recovery
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(Mike Meierhofer 214-533-4266)
TUESDAY - 1st & 3rd 
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(John Wood jpwood3@outlook.com or 469-644-6689)