Jump Start # 1778

Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

  Our verse today comes from that powerful confessionary Psalm of David after he was found guilty of adultery, murder and deception. The sin involved his transgressions with Bathsheba and the cover up that followed. The prophet Nathan was sent to David and he finally admitted his wrongs. God knew. Nathan the prophet knew. It was time to stop hiding and be honest with his moral failures.

It is in this atmosphere that David pens these words to God. He wants to be clean. He wants to be right. He wants the fellowship to be restored.

Our verse today, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” is a plea and a prayer that comes with parameters. This statement of David is similar in nature to a hymn we sing, “God give us Christian homes.” God alone will not create in me a clean heart. God alone will not give me a Christian home. David was seeking Godly help but the greatest help would come from within David. It would come from a heart that was ready to turn from sin and follow the Lord.

It’s hard to expect God to create a clean heart in us when we stay up watching movies that are filthy or find ourselves roaming around on the internet on sites that are suggestive and prone to lead us to have unclean thoughts. Simply memorizing this verse isn’t enough. There must be action on our part. God will help, but He won’t do it without our cooperation. We must do “clean” things to create a “clean” heart.

The same concept is found in that hymn, “God give us Christian homes.” Great song. Wonderful to sing that. But don’t expect your home to suddenly become “Christian,” while you ignore the kids to watch ESPN or are gone playing your hobbies or are always working. It takes a lot of effort to raise your children. They need God. But they need you to show them God. Simply singing that song on a Sunday morning and then continuing on with our neglectful ways will not lead the family to Christ. You must work with the Lord. You must set aside what you want to do for the sake of the family. You must pour yourself into your children, by showing them the ways of the Lord. Teach. Explain. Illustrate. Involve them. This is how our homes become “Christian.”

We live in times when we like others to do things for us. We pay some money and someone will come and take care of our yard. We pay some money and our car is cleaned at the car wash. We pay some money and our groceries are delivered to our door. I’ve seen ads where you can pay some money and someone will walk your dog and clean up the dog messes out of your yard. Pay some money and let someone else do all the hard and dirty work for us. There is a growing desire for these services in our times. However, you cannot pay someone some money to create that clean heart in your nor to raise your children to be godly. That’s not the preacher’s job. That’s not the church’s job. But we feel that way. When things do not turn out well, fingers are pointed at the church. “There weren’t any kids the same age as mine.” Some how that is supposed to be the reason why the kids turned their back on God. Or, “the classes were always about things that I wasn’t interested in.” Therefore, that justifies having a dirty heart?

David could make that statement and pray that plea, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” because he was ready to toss the junk out of his heart. He was ready to gut the insides and rewire his thinking. He learned some painful lessons. He was through with sin. He wanted to be back with God. There was no stopping David now. That determined spirit, that energy directed toward God, along with God’s help would bring David back. He would have a clean heart because he wanted it and was willing to do what he had to in order to get that.

All of this brings us back to our part of the equation. How interested are we in what we are asking God? How much effort are we going to put into it? What price are we willing to pay?

You want to know God’s word. Great. Are you willing to stick your nose in the book and spend some time really studying? Just wanting that won’t happen.

You want to be a strong Christian. Great. There are things you have to do. First, you have to worship with God’s people all the time. Every time those doors are opened, you got to get yourself down there. That’s what strong Christians do. You must get close to strong Christians. Find out what they are doing. That’s just common sense. If you want to lose weight, you hang around those who are in fitness and diets. Sitting at the counter at the donut shop won’t do it. If you want to have some money, hanging around broke people won’t do it. Find out what successful people are doing and then you do the same. Find out what strong Christians are doing and then you do it. What makes your shepherds strong spiritually? Do what they are doing.

You want to be an example for others. Great. There are things you have to do. You have to be busy doing good deeds. You have to be visible so others can see you. That’s where the idea of examples come from. You have to do and do and do.

Create in me a clean heart. Give us Christian homes. Make me strong. Make me a leader. These things are all possible and achievable if you are willing to do what it takes and work with the Lord. Without the Lord, it won’t happen. Nor, will the Lord do it without our cooperation. But together, you and the Lord, you can become a meaningful strong Christian. Why more do not want this is something I do not understand. Possibly, it’s because they don’t want to do their part. They don’t want to put in the hours and effort it will take. It’s easier to talk about it, complain about those who are doing it and find excuses that justify doing nothing.

The clean heart can begin today. Are you ready?

Roger