Having lived in Michigan for 20 years, the school shooting there yesterday hit close to home.
It also reminded me... America has a heart problem.
Jesus addressed this clearly when he said:
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander (Mt.15:19).
Notice the problems Jesus identifies... they're all prevalent in America today.
And at their core lies an underlying heart condition that seeks to live and find solutions apart from the Lord.
This means the problems concerning so many of us today will never be solved by politics, social action or adding more laws.
We need renewed hearts.
And the only way to receive these is to humble ourselves... and repent and believe the only one who gives new hearts.
Recalling the prayer of King David...
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us (Ps.51:10).