80. A Walk With Jesus (Pure Heart)

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart...
Psalm 24:3-4a

Outward performances of pious religiosity are valued as worthless in the eyes of God. Yes, faith without works is dead(a) but works without love is meaningless at best, and stem out of the sin of pride at worst. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart(b); He seeks the inner most thoughts of man; the deepest consideration; and all the passions therein. What a thought to behold, realizing the heart is desperately wicked(c) and no man can know it, and yet the Lord God searches the hearts of man and His eyes penetrate deep within. Like a performer I can make a spectacle of myself before men, I can behave in all sophistication, I can hide my motives from men, but I cannot disguise my intentions when confronted by Jesus. Note, good works are the product of salvation, NEVER have nor ever will good works produce salvation; that comes from Jesus Christ alone. So who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"?(d) Has any walked a blameless life? Can any say their righteousness exceeds that of God? It is not enough to be an excessively good person, it is not enough to be 99.99% pure and holy; you must be perfect and that you cannot achieve. Alone we are dead and without hope, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God(e)

BUT we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.(f) YES! God there is no better news than this! That I don't have to work to be right before You; that I am justified by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Your Son's work on the Cross; that I cannot lose my salvation because of the relentless love You have for me. You said to Your people, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.(g) This is what we want, this is what Your children seek. Jesus, inspect us and know us intimately! No longer let Your children sin against Your name in defiance to our Maker! You are not deceived by the weaknesses of our flesh, You know this frail body and it's short-comings well, Yet You were without sin. So we seek You, be kind and full of mercy towards us, and may we live life's of purity and authenticity.


(a)James 2:20 (b)I Samuel 16:7 (c)Jeremiah 17:9-10
(d)Proverbs 20:9 (e)Romans 3:23 (f)Romans 3:24