Titus 1:15

These words may well feel familiar. They closely echo the words of Jesus when he said: “A good person produces the good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45). Paul’s particular challenge in Crete came from those who were insisting that all Christian men should be circumcised.

This teaching was proving extremely destructive and was driving whole families away from the Church. Paul was convinced that the only reason they were teaching this was to make money. In response, he quoted a Cretan prophet, who said: “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals and lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12). This sounds incredibly harsh, but Paul was desperate to protect the young church from those who were bent on its destruction.

Paul was convinced that what mattered more than anything was the purity of a person’s heart. If their heart was right, everything that flowed from them would be good.

In 2 Samuel 12-13, we see that this was a lesson King David also had to learn. David was a good leader but, when he saw Bathsheba and desired her, his moral compass deserted him. Sin doesn’t often come singly. David’s adultery with Bathsheba led to a string of lies and, eventually, to the murder of her husband. Bad went to much, much worse – that is the nature of sin. After Nathan confronted King David, he cried out: “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt, purify me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).

David knew the only way back to God was to seek his forgiveness. After he had done this, he got his joy back and was able to serve God with a clear conscience. There is nothing more important than maintaining a pure heart. We need to seek God’s forgiveness, renewal and strength every single day.

QUESTION
In what ways do you need to seek God’s forgiveness today?

PRAYER
Lord God, thank you that you understand me completely and are able to purify me. Here and now, I confess my sins to you and seek your forgiveness. Amen

Released on 9 Jul 2023