Pearls of the Word

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Create in me a pure heart

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"Oh, God! Create [bara] in me a pure heart" (Psalm 51:12).

The Hebrew verb bara means to create, shape, bring to birth, fashion; this verb is used especially in Genesis 1 to describe the work of God, the Creator.

We cannot change ourselves, and still less can we change others. On the other hand, we can ask our Creator to change us, for He said, "I will remove the heart of stone from your body, and I will give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).

The law cannot entirely change a heart, it can only change behaviour. It is only in the Lord's presence that we will be transformed into His image, through the power of His Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).