Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
It's easy sometimes to think what's shiny and sparkly is somehow clean and pure. Our eyes deceive us everyday, and they certainly cannot see beneath the surface.
But, God can.
What lies beneath the surface is what God sees -- and can make right. Is your heart pure? The word "pure" means to be without contamination. It means to be clean. Does being forgiven of our sins make us clean?
Forgiveness and sin go hand in hand. As humans we're all repeat offenders when it comes to sin. Whether it's the things we do we shouldn't, or the things we should do we don't, we offend against God and man constantly.
No matter how good we might look on the outside, inside we're all dirty. Even our best intentions and supposed acts of virtue are stained through and through with our sin. Isaiah really said it best: "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment" (Isaiah 64.6a).
But there is a way to become spotless, uncontaminated, washed of our sin. Cleansing comes by the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross to take away our sins. He alone forgives us our sins; He alone can them away.
And He alone has done it. Alleluia!
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the forgiveness and cleansing You offer through the death of resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ! Renew us throughout this New Year and make our lives an acceptable offering in Your sight. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Biography of Author:
Van Than, a volunteer worker with Lutheran Hour Ministries-Cambodia, provided this devotion. Through film shows, puppet performances, youth programs, and efforts to take the Gospel to people living in rural areas, LHM fulfills its mission of Bringing Christ to the Nations-and the Nations to the Church.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 4-6 Matthew 2
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