Daily Devotional | Pure Heart | 2 Timothy 2:22| Pastor Jim Cymbala

>> Ohio. >> Ohio. I know it says Puerto Rico. But I gave I know it says Puerto Rico. But I gave I know it says Puerto Rico. But I gave you Japan. you Japan. you Japan. I did 2 days in a row of Spanish. I did 2 days in a row of Spanish. I did 2 days in a row of Spanish. This hoodie is such a nice present, This hoodie is such a nice present, This hoodie is such a nice present, isn't it? isn't it? isn't it? And And And you know you know you know my my my friends from uh my my my friends from uh my my my friends from uh my Roma brothers in Christ my Roma brothers in Christ my Roma brothers in Christ from Slovakia, they were recently here. from Slovakia, they were recently here. from Slovakia, they were recently here. They're so generous, so kind. They don't They're so generous, so kind. They don't They're so generous, so kind. They don't have much. have much. have much. And one of them when I was here, they And one of them when I was here, they And one of them when I was here, they know I like hoodies, and they watch and know I like hoodies, and they watch and know I like hoodies, and they watch and I record in hoodies, and they like when I record in hoodies, and they like when I record in hoodies, and they like when I greet everyone in so sorry. I greet everyone in so sorry. I greet everyone in so sorry. And they brought me a hoodie. And they brought me a hoodie. And they brought me a hoodie. And there's writing on it. Didn't say And there's writing on it. Didn't say And there's writing on it. Didn't say Puerto Rico, it didn't say Puerto Rico, it didn't say Puerto Rico, it didn't say whatever whatever whatever you know, Adidas. you know, Adidas. you know, Adidas. And and whatever. You know what it said? And and whatever. You know what it said? And and whatever. You know what it said? Break. Break. Break. B R E A K. Nice hoodie. Haven't worn it B R E A K. Nice hoodie. Haven't worn it B R E A K. Nice hoodie. Haven't worn it yet. yet. yet. But I was embarrassed, shy to say to But I was embarrassed, shy to say to But I was embarrassed, shy to say to them, "Yo them, "Yo them, "Yo Marek, Ronaldo break.

break. If someone says to me, "What's that If someone says to me, "What's that If someone says to me, "What's that hoodie about?" What am I going to say? hoodie about?" What am I going to say? hoodie about?" What am I going to say? Just break. Just break. Just break. Not B R A K E like a car break. No, no. Not B R A K E like a car break. No, no. Not B R A K E like a car break. No, no. Break. B R E A K. Break. B R E A K. Break. B R E A K. Well, whatever. Got to be thankful even Well, whatever. Got to be thankful even Well, whatever. Got to be thankful even if you don't know what it means. Good morning to you. Remember to check Good morning to you. Remember to check our website for the conference, October our website for the conference, October our website for the conference, October 2nd through 4th in Brooklyn. 2nd through 4th in Brooklyn. 2nd through 4th in Brooklyn. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. Great speakers. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. Great speakers. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. Great speakers. Just check it out. And make you get your Just check it out. And make you get your Just check it out. And make you get your reservation. We that even have a reservation. We that even have a reservation. We that even have a recommendation of a travel service that recommendation of a travel service that recommendation of a travel service that will will will maybe get you a reasonable hotel. maybe get you a reasonable hotel. maybe get you a reasonable hotel. A reasonable hotel rate. Here's what Paul says to Timothy Here's what Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy in 2 Timothy in 2 Timothy um um um 22. Flee the evil desires of youth. 22. Flee the evil desires of youth. 22. Flee the evil desires of youth. That's good for all of us. That's good for all of us. That's good for all of us. But notice, not just flee, pursue. But notice, not just flee, pursue. But notice, not just flee, pursue. Some people are always fleeing and Some people are always fleeing and Some people are always fleeing and fleeing and they don't know why they fleeing and they don't know why they fleeing and they don't know why they can't get away, it's because they're not can't get away, it's because they're not can't get away, it's because they're not pursuing something else.

pursuing something else. pursuing something else. Righteousness, faith, love and peace. Righteousness, faith, love and peace. Righteousness, faith, love and peace. That'll keep us out of mischief. That'll keep us out of mischief. That'll keep us out of mischief. Along with those who call on the Lord Along with those who call on the Lord Along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. That's a name out of a pure heart. That's a name out of a pure heart. That's a name That's That's a description of That's That's a description of That's That's a description of Christians. Christians were those who Christians. Christians were those who Christians. Christians were those who call on the name call on the name call on the name of the Lord. Notice, out of a pure of the Lord. Notice, out of a pure of the Lord. Notice, out of a pure heart. Mean it. heart. Mean it. heart. Mean it. Some people talk about the Lord, but Some people talk about the Lord, but Some people talk about the Lord, but they don't call on him, they don't call on him, they don't call on him, worship him, worship him, worship him, have asked him to save them, have asked him to save them, have asked him to save them, adore him, adore him, adore him, and are sincere with it. You know, some of the purest hearts of You know, some of the purest hearts of people who call on the name of the Lord people who call on the name of the Lord people who call on the name of the Lord I've met in Angola prison down in I've met in Angola prison down in I've met in Angola prison down in Louisiana Louisiana Louisiana near Baton Rouge, about near Baton Rouge, about near Baton Rouge, about an hour away, 45 minutes away. an hour away, 45 minutes away. an hour away, 45 minutes away. Maximum security, Maximum security, Maximum security, over 5,000 inmates, average sentence 91 over 5,000 inmates, average sentence 91 over 5,000 inmates, average sentence 91 years. years. years. But the Lord is moving and people are But the Lord is moving and people are But the Lord is moving and people are being saved. And I met some Christians being saved. And I met some Christians being saved. And I met some Christians down there, in for murder, second down there, in for murder, second down there, in for murder, second degree, Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness, what God can do.

what God can do. what God can do. How he can change a life. How he can change a life. How he can change a life. They call on the name of the Lord out of They call on the name of the Lord out of They call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart. They're part of the a pure heart. They're part of the a pure heart. They're part of the people, us, who are going to spend people, us, who are going to spend people, us, who are going to spend eternity in heaven. You're going to be eternity in heaven. You're going to be eternity in heaven. You're going to be with my friends, the inmates who are with my friends, the inmates who are with my friends, the inmates who are Christians from Angola. and I saw a guy walking around a dorm. and I saw a guy walking around a dorm. He's walking around the cot. They have He's walking around the cot. They have He's walking around the cot. They have these cots in the dorm. If you get to be these cots in the dorm. If you get to be these cots in the dorm. If you get to be more trusted, you stay in a dorm, not a more trusted, you stay in a dorm, not a more trusted, you stay in a dorm, not a cell. cell. cell. He's just walking looking at the the He's just walking looking at the the He's just walking looking at the the cot. cot. cot. So, I walk in So, I walk in So, I walk in and I go hi and he goes, "My name is and I go hi and he goes, "My name is and I go hi and he goes, "My name is John." So, John." So, John." So, we talk we talk we talk and and and the warden, who's my is my friend, says the warden, who's my is my friend, says the warden, who's my is my friend, says to him, "Hi John, how do you feel?" And to him, "Hi John, how do you feel?" And to him, "Hi John, how do you feel?" And turns out this was his first day in the turns out this was his first day in the turns out this was his first day in the dorm. dorm. dorm. And he had been locked up for more than And he had been locked up for more than And he had been locked up for more than 20 years 20 years 20 years in uh in uh in uh um um um what is that section called?

what is that section called? what is that section called? Uh I can't think of it. Uh I can't think of it. Uh I can't think of it. It's the section where they put It's the section where they put It's the section where they put troublemakers or serious problems troublemakers or serious problems troublemakers or serious problems who uh need to have an eye kept on them. who uh need to have an eye kept on them. who uh need to have an eye kept on them. Same cell, 23 hours a day, 1 hour out Same cell, 23 hours a day, 1 hour out Same cell, 23 hours a day, 1 hour out every day, 20 some years. every day, 20 some years. every day, 20 some years. And now he's in a dorm. He can move And now he's in a dorm. He can move And now he's in a dorm. He can move around. So, when I got in the car, he said to So, when I got in the car, he said to me, me, me, "By the way, I know who you are. I heard "By the way, I know who you are. I heard "By the way, I know who you are. I heard you on the on the on the radio thing you on the on the on the radio thing you on the on the on the radio thing that they have in there the last time that they have in there the last time that they have in there the last time you came and spoke. Can I Can I talk to you came and spoke. Can I Can I talk to you came and spoke. Can I Can I talk to you?" And I saw a Bible. He was you?" And I saw a Bible. He was you?" And I saw a Bible. He was searching. searching. searching. He had a Bible marked up. "Can I meet He had a Bible marked up. "Can I meet He had a Bible marked up. "Can I meet you this afternoon?" I went, "Of course, you this afternoon?" I went, "Of course, you this afternoon?" I went, "Of course, that's why I'm here." that's why I'm here." that's why I'm here." I get in the car with the warden and I get in the car with the warden and I get in the car with the warden and afterward I'm driving. I was saying, afterward I'm driving. I was saying, afterward I'm driving. I was saying, "What's with John?" "What's with John?" "What's with John?" He said, "Oh, John." He gave me the name, New Orleans. He He gave me the name, New Orleans. He operated in New Orleans. He was operated in New Orleans. He was operated in New Orleans. He was front page news. They couldn't catch front page news. They couldn't catch front page news. They couldn't catch him. Serial rapist. But what he did, how him. Serial rapist. But what he did, how him. Serial rapist. But what he did, how he did it in front of how it the family he did it in front of how it the family he did it in front of how it the family I'm not going to go into that.

I'm not going to go into that. I'm not going to go into that. So in New Orleans, they just give uh So in New Orleans, they just give uh So in New Orleans, they just give uh like life sentences for every uh charge like life sentences for every uh charge like life sentences for every uh charge that you're convicted on of sex crimes. that you're convicted on of sex crimes. that you're convicted on of sex crimes. They don't play around. They don't know They don't play around. They don't know They don't play around. They don't know how to spell the word how to spell the word how to spell the word uh plea bargain. uh plea bargain. uh plea bargain. So So So he's in there he's in there he's in there and now he's in that s- um and now he's in that s- um and now he's in that s- um dorm. dorm. dorm. And he wants to meet with me. And now And he wants to meet with me. And now And he wants to meet with me. And now they tell me what he did, how he they tell me what he did, how he they tell me what he did, how he operated. operated. operated. Something welled up inside of me. They dropped me off after we ate in my They dropped me off after we ate in my room there on the grounds. room there on the grounds. room there on the grounds. And I had an hour and a half before I And I had an hour and a half before I And I had an hour and a half before I had to meet him. had to meet him. had to meet him. I said, "God, I can't do this." I said, "God, I can't do this." I said, "God, I can't do this." I don't want him to become a Christian. I don't want him to become a Christian. I don't want him to become a Christian. I want to throw him through a off a se- I want to throw him through a off a se- I want to throw him through a off a se- seven-story building. How about that? seven-story building. How about that? seven-story building. How about that? Telling you the truth. Telling you the truth. Telling you the truth. Oh, Pastor Symbala, I thought better of Oh, Pastor Symbala, I thought better of Oh, Pastor Symbala, I thought better of you. Hey, what can I tell you?

If you heard what I heard, ooh. If you heard what I heard, ooh. And I started to cry. I can see myself And I started to cry. I can see myself And I started to cry. I can see myself on the bed on the bed on the bed sitting facing a wall 3 ft in front of sitting facing a wall 3 ft in front of sitting facing a wall 3 ft in front of me. me. me. Oh Lord, help me. I went to see him. He was searching. I went to see him. He was searching. I led him to Christ. He's become a strong Christian there. He's become a strong Christian there. I've kept track of him. He calls me He calls me his spiritual father. And Jesus has changed him. But you say And Jesus has changed him. But you say "Nobody who could do that deserves to "Nobody who could do that deserves to "Nobody who could do that deserves to live." Look, I felt the same way. But God is full of mercy. But God is full of mercy. And if you want to know his mercy, I And if you want to know his mercy, I And if you want to know his mercy, I don't care what you've done last week, don't care what you've done last week, don't care what you've done last week, last month, last decade, last month, last decade, last month, last decade, and what the devil is knowing at you and what the devil is knowing at you and what the devil is knowing at you about, about, about, everyone who calls on the name of the everyone who calls on the name of the everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Lord Lord shall be saved. When you do it shall be saved. When you do it shall be saved. When you do it with a sincere heart.

with a sincere heart. with a sincere heart. Can we not praise God for what he's Can we not praise God for what he's Can we not praise God for what he's done, not just for my friend John, done, not just for my friend John, done, not just for my friend John, but in your life and mine. but in your life and mine. but in your life and mine. Let's keep calling [music] on the name Let's keep calling [music] on the name Let's keep calling [music] on the name of the Lord. of the Lord. of the Lord. Till next time.