The Grinch Who Stole Christmas–part 4
We’re in a series on The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. It is about enlarging your heart.
The Grinch set out to steal Christmas from the citizens of Whoville. In his 1957 classic Dr. Seuss put his finger on the key element at the center of the real Christmas story: the heart. What was the cause of the Grinch’s grouchiness? His heart. What was wrong with his heart? It was two sizes too small.
This week, we’ll look at how God is working you give you a PURE HEART.
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
If there is only one thing you pay careful attention to in life it should be your heart. But often we spend our lives attending to other important things like our finances, careers, families and physical health but leave the condition of our inside heart to drift wherever it wants to. The condition of your heart will have the most profound impact on all of life.
DAY 1
1. When you think of a “pure heart” what comes to your mind?
2. What areas of life strike you about a pure heart. Place a checkmark between the areas pertinent for you:
___ My motives
___ Actions toward the opposite sex
___ Thoughts about the opposite sex
___ Words that come out of your mouth
___ Telling the truth
___ Ethics in your business/ finances
___ Other:________________________________________________
Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?
3. Describe the difficulty you have with keeping a pure heart.
1 Timothy 1:5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
4. Everybody wants better relationships. What three things are needed to love well?
5. Pray that God will give you a pure heart.
6. What is a step you can you do to move toward a pure heart?
DAY 2
Only God can give us pure hearts. Without His help we have no hope of moving toward a pure heart. That said, we have a role to play in this endeavor.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
1. One of the ways we develop a pure heart is to flee evil desires which lead to impurity. What are situations to which you should flee?
___ Getting on the computer when alone
___ Moving away from someone with whom I am tempted
___ Fleeing from bad influences/people
___ Fleeing from stores when I’m tempted to overspend
___ Fleeing from someone who gossips
___ What I watch on TV
___ Other:___________________________________________
2. Paul’s instruction to Timothy is not just “negative,” to flee evil desires. He also tells us to do what?
3. Below is the list of items Paul tells Timothy to pursue. Next to each, jot down some examples of how you could pursue them…
* Pursue righteousness-
* Pursue faith-
* Pursue love-
* Pursue peace-
4. Start with a game plan:
a. What is one situation you need to regularly flee from?
b. What is one thing you should pursue?
c. Pray over both of these.
DAY 3
Your heart is the center of who we are. Every decision is made here. Everything you say and do comes from your heart.
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
1. How can you guard your heart?
2. The next verse gives us eight types of “guards” to place around (and in) our hearts.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
3. The “guards” are listed below. Next to each one, write down an example of how what you can think in your mind/heart. I have included some of my own examples…
* True-“God’s promises are true.”
* Noble-“I will live a life of sacrifice.”
* Right-“I am going to give so-and-so the benefit of the doubt.”
* Pure-“If a bad commercial pops up on the TV, I AM CHANGING the channel.”
* Lovely-“I’m going to develop a grateful attitude toward my cancer.”
* Admirable-“I’m going to give it my best shot, even if I think what I’m doing doesn’t have much chance of succeeding.”
* Excellent-“I am going to practice my sermon five times out loud. It doesn’t matter if I think I’m ‘ready’.”
* Praiseworthy- “I’m going to give honor to whom it is due.” (Phil. 2:29)
4. Which one struck you the most? Why?
5. Consider writing a few small reminder notes and putting them where you’ll need to see them.
DAY 4
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
1. We’ve looked at verses that relate to purity of heart and mind. Where also is purity needed?
2. What would “pure devotion” to Christ look like, to you? If you saw it in someone else, what would you see?
3. One of the dangers associated with a pure heart is “blind spots”.
Proverbs 30:12 those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
4. Can you think of someone you know who was/is an example of Prov. 30:12?
5. In the following verses write down what can help us gain a pure heart.
Psalms 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
1 John 3:3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
6. Life’s ultimate pursuit and joys come from our relationship with God. The psalmist gives us a metaphor of that pursuit (ascending; standing) and the requirements.
Psalms 24:3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
a. What strikes you about the pursuit(s)?
b. What strikes you about the requirements?
7. What’s your takeaway from today’s devotions?
DAY 5
1. Today we’ll look at some of the benefits of a pure heart. Beneath each of the verses write down why it is important to have a pure heart.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalms 73:1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
Philippians 1:10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
Proverbs 22:11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
Philippians 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
2. Which verse struck you the most? Why?
3. Why do you want to have a pure heart?
4. What keeps you from making progress toward a pure heart?
5. Think of a trusted friend with whom you can confide. Sometimes, we make progress when we take someone along with us on the journey, when we open up about our own struggles of the heart.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
6. Have coffee with your friend. Share one item that has become important to you regarding a pure heart.