Plea for Grace January 23, 2022

(Jesus is speaking) Matthew 15:17-19 ESV – 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Psalm 19:12-14 ESV – 12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 119:1-3 ESV – 1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

Just as sin begins in the heart and then results in action, so also obedience must have its source in our hearts. Mere actions of obedience without the heart’s desire to obey are actually “false witness (lying)”

Father,

Thank You for Your Word, to show me the wickedness of my heart that I want to hide, even from myself. Thank You for cleansing my heart. Thank You for Your salvation. Thank You for Your steadfast love. I want to obey You, I want to seek You with my whole heart. Psalm 119:10-11 ESV – 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.