A Pure Heart

September 22, 2021
Midweek study with Pastor Edith
Read: Proverbs 4:20-23

This week’s meditation is a continuance of the series I have been sharing with you from Max Lucado’s book Just Like Jesus.

The premise of his book is this statement: “God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be Just like Jesus”.

Let’s take a look at a verse of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs and in verse 23: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life”

Jesus had a pure heart. Not only because he was God in the flesh, but because he made a willful decision to spend time alone with God and God’s word. Jesus often separated himself from the crowds to have quiet time with his heavenly father, to pray, to listen and to simply “be still and know”. Those who choose to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, who want to be a Christian, need also to do the same. The world is a noisy and busy place and if we are not careful we will allow anything to take root in our lives, just because it is the easy way out.

I like this story from Max Lucado that illustrates this very thing. Here is just an excerpt: “Suppose you come to visit me one day and find me working in my greenhouse. I explain to you that this greenhouse was a gift from my father. He used state-of-the-art equipment to create the ideal structure for growth. The atmosphere is perfect. The lighting exact. The temperature is suited for flowers, fruit, or anything I want. And what I want is flowers and fruit. I ask you to join me as I collect some seeds to plant…You watch me walk into a field and strip seeds off of a variety of weeds…You can’t believe what you’ve just seen.

You ask me; ‘I thought you wanted a greenhouse full of flowers and fruit’ and I reply, ‘I do’. You ask me the obvious question; ‘Don’t you think you ought to plant flower and fruit seeds?’ and I reply; ‘Do you have any idea how much those seeds cost? Besides, I’d have to drive all the way to the garden center to get them. No thanks, I’m taking the cheap and easy route’”. (pgs. 115-116. 1991 Billy Graham Assoc. publication)

Sounds pretty silly, right? But, take a moment and think of the many things that distract you from having quiet time with God and His word. If you and I do not make the time, commit to the effort, and consider such an investment of our lives to plant the good seed of time with Him to be of the utmost importance, well, according to this example, weeds will grow and not fruit and flowers fit for the kingdom of God.

Isn’t God good to allow us to choose?

He is faithful even when we are not, and at any time on any given day, we get to choose to spend time with Him. Simply by taking the time to read this and the scripture provided is one step closer to a garden of “fruit and flowers” for God.

AMEN