Create in me a clean heart, O God ....

"... God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." Matthew 22:32

Lately I've been contemplating what it means to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. What it means to be humble. What it means to be clean on the inside. What it means to have mercy and faith. And above all, what it means to have Christ as your master...

" For one is your master, even Christ." 

Matthew 23:8

Maybe all this stemmed from a recent visit to a group of people that take pride in their "cleanliness"... and having "orderliness" as a top priority. Lots of rules and regulations. I suppose there's really nothing wrong in being clean, it's a wonderful trait to have. But as I visited these people I was burdened. Can outwardly cleanliness count for anything in God's kingdom? Does it count for eternity? 

How are we, as followers of Christ, able to shine clean in a world of "filth"? Filth being sin, and all things unclean.   Well, I needed to go to the WORD... to find God's answers.

The gospel of Matthew relates Jesus' condemnation of those being clean on the outside and failing to apply cleanliness on the inside. 

" Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, 

But within they are full of extortion and excess. " 

Matthew 23:25

The Lord sure is direct! How often we make ourselves look good so that others may see our "righteousness".   

We can easily "pay" the tithe... whatever it may be that requires us to "look good". But we forget what counts most in God's eyes... judgement, mercy and faith.

"  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, 

But within ye are full of hypocrisy, and iniquity." 

Matthew 23:28

So as I was reading through the chapter in Matthew, I stopped a bit to evaluate my own life. How do I live for Christ? Do I worry about man's view of me? Or do I care about being clean before God?

If Christ is alive in me, then I too shall live... no longer for myself, or the world around me... but for the ONE who died for me. And if Christ be my master, the greatest amongst us(also a servant), then I too am called to follow in His steps.... to walk humbly, to show mercy, to be guided by Him in all things. No boasting in my own abilities...

What assurance to know that His blood has cleansed me from the filth and dross of sin. Great is God's power to cleanse! 

His cleansing, not my own... 

And so I delight in the wonderful work of God on my behalf... the joy of being clean within, by the power of His blood.

" Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: 

Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." 

Psalm 51:7

May you know the real meaning of being clean... and shine for HIM.  

  

~Ellie

For HE knoweth our frame...

" Bless the LORD of my soul and all that is within me, bless HIS HOLY name." Psalm 103:1

Ah, Psalm 103. What a beautiful, beautiful Psalm. Worth reading over and over again.

I've been trying to share some thoughts of what I have been dwelling on these past few days.  And I was sort of stuck. It's not that I haven't felt the Lord's goodness and mercy... for I have had some wonderful moments singing some old hymns and thanking the LORD for His daily provisions and faithfulness.

But after I read Psalm 103 today,  my heart was full of joy, contentment, gladness, thankfulness... all in one go!  Have you ever doubted God's love for you? Have you ever doubted God's mercy? Have you ever doubted God's tenderness? Just read Psalm 103... and you'll be amazed at GOD's beautiful tenderness towards us HIS people.

Even though we deserved death and punishment, God is ever so LOVING!

Here are just a few of His attributes towards us:

1) The LORD is merciful, 2) He is gracious, 3) He is slow to anger, 4) He is plentuous in mercy, 5) He will not always chide, 6) He will not keep His anger forever, 7) He doesn't deal with us after our sins, 8) He doesn't reward us after our iniquities 9) He pitieth us as a father does his child, 10) He removes our transgressions from us, 11) He forgives all our iniquities, 12) He heals all our diseases, 13) He redeems our life from destruction, 14) He crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 15) He satisfies our mouth with good things, 16 He executes righteousness and judgement to all that are oppressed.

Isn't it beautiful? What a LOVING FATHER.

And when we  think that GOD would have all the right to terminate us... He remembers that we are just dust! He knows how we are made. We are nothing before him... and yet ...we are EVERYTHING! HE sent HIS SON to die for us. Can we ever have enough praise?

As the Psalmist says: "Bless the LORD, O my soul... and all that is within me, BLESS His Holy name."

The neat thing is that HIS mercy is from everlasting to everlasting! It never ends...

May you be blessed as you meditate on the Father's tenderness and lovingkindness today.

~Ellie

The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man...

 

" In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul." Ps. 94:19

Do you ever have sleepless nights? ... or days when you are overwhelmed with a multitude of thoughts. Maybe, there are days and nights when you are  sorely burdened. I've had my share of those days and nights. Days where I've felt my feet slipping from under me... giving way to fear. Fear of a loved one dying from a sickness, fear of being all alone, fear of losing all hope.

But in those darkest moments my Saviour never lets go! He always understands... He always knows our thoughts.  For when our feet slip, His mercy holds us up.(PS. 94:18)... Blessed be HIS name!

And even during the darkest of moments, God teaches us lessons that can only be learned when we are at the end of our rope. To learn full dependence on Him.... and ultimately accept His perfect plan. Isn't it interesting that we tend to seek God and cry out for mercy mostly when we are empty ... and in need.

Many times God has to apply chastisement  so we can be brought back into the "fold"... "we all like sheep have gone astray".  How often when out of the "fold" we take matters into our hands... trusting NOT the Lord , NOR relying on Him.

We try working things out with our own reason, we seek the advice of friends or family, or we look to other means for deliverance. But how gracious our LORD is with us! What may be chastisement for the moment, is later rewarded as a blessing. We are blessed through the chastisement. Yes, through chastisement we are blessed! It may sound contrary to what we feel when chastised, but God's word never lies...

" Blessed is the man whom THOU chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law." Ps. 94:11

Isn't it beautiful?... To know the Father knows best. Help me LORD to accept THY will ... and not my own.

May you know the blessings of the HEAVENLY FATHER today!

~Ellie