February 1, 2018 - SPIRITUAL HEART DISEASE

Day 32 - (Today’s Bible readings: Genesis 24:32-66, Psalm 30, Matthew 15:1-20)

“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”  (Matthew 15:19 ESV)

Over 600,000 people die from heart disease in America every year. That’s one out of every four deaths.

But there is another form of heart disease that is far more deadly. It kills 100% of its victims. This is what Jesus is referring to in today’s verse. There are some who would say that people are basically good. That is not what Jesus says. Nor is what we know from first hand experience.

David identifies the only cure for this kind of heart disease:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51: 10-11 ESV)

God answered this prayer for mercy with the cross of Christ. Our spiritual heart disease was cured on Good Friday.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for healing my spiritual heart disease by means of Your bitter suffering and death on the cross. Please keep me safe in that saving faith. In Jesus'  name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!