Life Changing Christianity

Psalm 51: 9-13, 17 - “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”


     I was wondering recently at the prevailing thought of this present time and generation towards salvation in Jesus Christ. It seems that the majority of those that claim Christianity see it to be more of a choice of religion, rather than the saving of their soul from sin. They will say they are a Christian, yet their daily routine is void of prayer, Bible Study or right living. You can talk to them about anything at work, and they will never bring up the ‘topic’ of Christ. You can share with them the story of how you were led to pray for forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus, and they show no emotion or utter any words of kindred experience. You can tell that they would rather veer towards another conversation. Many churches today preach the message of hope and mercy, but not that you need God to cleanse you from sin in order to gain those things.
     The psalmist said he needed his iniquities blotted out. He didn’t even want there to be a record of the filth of the past in his life! He said, ‘Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.’ He wanted to be pure on the inside with the right attitude and way of life. The desire in the writing is to have the joy and happiness in his life to be caused by the salvation of God and nothing else; and he went further than that. He said, ‘THEN will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.’ Then, he could help others to know the love of God, and to CHANGE their lives!
     The apostle Peter understood verse 17. In his early experiences shortly after meeting Jesus got him to think about the condition of his life. He heard Jesus teach the masses from his own ship, and after witnessing the miraculous draught of fish that He caused;

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5: 1-11)

     Peter had the broken and contrite heart that God will never despise. Instead of leaving him, Jesus showed him how to live for God.
     Do you consider yourself a Christian? Did you pray for God to forgive you of your sins with a broken spirit and a repentant heart? If not, remember that a prayer for mercy with no intention of living above that which the mercy was asked for is really not seeking forgiveness or a Christ-like life. Christianity is not found in a church membership roll or an inscription at the front of your Bible or even in someone else’s prayer for you. It will only be found in your heart, mind, actions and words.

     Consider your life and the validity of your claim to Christ. Please read these passages:
2nd Corinthians 13: 5
Romans 3: 23; 10: 9-10
Galatians 5: 16-25
John 3: 1-21


- Written by my husband