Create in me a clean heart, O God

​9/29/21
Today's devotion for today is based on Luke 9:54, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"
The disciples were preparing the way for Jesus. It must have come as a sharp disappointment when the residents in this village turned down the opportunity to receive Jesus. I can imagine the righteous indignation and the wish to punish such inhospitable people. But that was not what Jesus wanted, as the following verses show.
Our words and actions are so important when we are relating to others. If we take time and think about those who may be irritating us or making us angry and resist the urge to take out that anger on them, we may well open up new opportunities for sharing Jesus' love, or as the hymn writer says:
Take my voice, and let me sing
 Always, only for my King.
 Take my lips, and let them be
 Filled with messages from thee.
Would you please pray with me Psalm 51. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit." Amen.