Clean Hands and Pure Hearts
Psalm 24: 1-6
Psalm 24: 1-6
A psalm of David.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and
everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.
3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.
5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
6 Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.
A family was traveling toward Pennsylvania after leaving Hilton Head, SC. They had neither read nor heard about a massive storm that had ripped through a six state area, leaving toppled trees and downed power lines in its wake.
As they passed a gas station in Fayetteville, WV, the driver noticed an unusually long line of people waiting to buy gas. She began to get nervous when the lines disappeared and were replaced by pumps covered with plastic bags. Her gas tank was near empty; it was ninety degrees in the shade, and the only open gas station for miles was too far away for her to reach.
It was about that time that a stranger asked if she and her family would like to “sit on the porch and have a cold drink” while they figured out their next move.
As it turned out, the stranger was the son of the town’s mayor. He and his wife welcomed the families along with two others who were also stranded. Hamburgers were grilled and cold water was shared. Then the mayor brought out a gas can that he had filled the day before and divided it among the families. It was just enough to get them to the gas station so they could make their way home.
In Psalm 24:3-4, we are asked who may climb the mountain of the Lord. The answer is none of us because none of us have clean hands or pure hearts. We have all sinned. But when I read the story about the mayor and his family helping those in need, I could not help but think that God must have been so proud of his children taking care of their brothers and sisters with their hands and hearts. And what about the woman who connected power cords and pulled them across the street so her neighbor could share her electricity? Or the family who took in fifteen relatives and friends to share their air conditioning and pool?
The list is endless; that is the good news. Now all we have to do is follow in the footsteps of those who are climbing the mountain of the Lord in order to stand in His holy place. We need to come to the Lord with clean hands and pure hearts – or at least invite someone to come sit on the porch and have a cold drink.
Heavenly Father, you have given us everything we need and more. Let us remember to share our possessions, our time, and our love as you have shared them with us. In your name we pray. Amen
Becky Warren
The world and all its people belong to him.
2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.
3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.
5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
6 Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.
A family was traveling toward Pennsylvania after leaving Hilton Head, SC. They had neither read nor heard about a massive storm that had ripped through a six state area, leaving toppled trees and downed power lines in its wake.
As they passed a gas station in Fayetteville, WV, the driver noticed an unusually long line of people waiting to buy gas. She began to get nervous when the lines disappeared and were replaced by pumps covered with plastic bags. Her gas tank was near empty; it was ninety degrees in the shade, and the only open gas station for miles was too far away for her to reach.
It was about that time that a stranger asked if she and her family would like to “sit on the porch and have a cold drink” while they figured out their next move.
As it turned out, the stranger was the son of the town’s mayor. He and his wife welcomed the families along with two others who were also stranded. Hamburgers were grilled and cold water was shared. Then the mayor brought out a gas can that he had filled the day before and divided it among the families. It was just enough to get them to the gas station so they could make their way home.
In Psalm 24:3-4, we are asked who may climb the mountain of the Lord. The answer is none of us because none of us have clean hands or pure hearts. We have all sinned. But when I read the story about the mayor and his family helping those in need, I could not help but think that God must have been so proud of his children taking care of their brothers and sisters with their hands and hearts. And what about the woman who connected power cords and pulled them across the street so her neighbor could share her electricity? Or the family who took in fifteen relatives and friends to share their air conditioning and pool?
The list is endless; that is the good news. Now all we have to do is follow in the footsteps of those who are climbing the mountain of the Lord in order to stand in His holy place. We need to come to the Lord with clean hands and pure hearts – or at least invite someone to come sit on the porch and have a cold drink.
Heavenly Father, you have given us everything we need and more. Let us remember to share our possessions, our time, and our love as you have shared them with us. In your name we pray. Amen
Becky Warren
2 comments:
A beautiful devotional today. I aml richly blessed by JM's devotional ministry. Thank you!
William Boyd Grove
Bishop
A beautiful devotional today. I aml richly blessed by JM's devotional ministry. Thank you!
William Boyd Grove
Bishop
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