From A Defiled Heart To A Pure Heart

Read also Matthew 5:1-16.

Our Lord Jesus never minced words. When speaking about defilement and its cause, He said, *Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this devileth a man* (Matt. 15:11). When the puzzled disciples asked for an explanation, He said, *Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man* (15:18). So, to have a defiled heart in the scriptural sense means that the motives produced by our old sinful natures are evil and result in sinful actions. Therefore, to have a pure heart must involve the same area of motivation. Down deep in our hearts we must really want God*s will.

The miracle of salvation is that God does indeed give *a new heart* to those who commit themselves to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior: *I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: that they may walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them* (Ezek. 11:19-20).

Alone, you will never be able to manage your heart, that is, your deepest desires and motives. Give your heart to Jesus and let it be *God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure* (Phil. 2:13).

This devotional was written by Dr. Robert A. Cook. You can subscribe to his free email articles and listen to his Spirit-filled 15-minute messages at www.walkwiththeking.org. Used with written permission.

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