Matthew 5:3-12
Verse 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
We continue to look through the beatitudes drawing from them the eternal resolutions that will help us live as He has called us to live.
Jesus stated this one quite clearly and yet this is one of the least attended to. Maybe it is because we struggle with the idea of having a pure heart. Purity can sound pretty boring and dull so why would we desire that as a way of life? Purity may seem out of reach or maybe we think we have blown it and have no chance of getting it back. While we can’t get purity back on our own, we can ask His purification work in our life.
The word translated as “pure” in this verse is a Greek word for clean. To have a clean heart isn’t simply meaning that we have been cleansed from our sins. This is about a lack of filth in our thinking and actions. To be pure of heart also speaks about what we are allowing into our hearts and minds. Whether through written word, visual images or the words that pass through our ears – in music or words of jokes or podcasts we listen to – we need to be conscience of what we are taking in.
The word translated as heart is talking about the emotional station of our body not the mere organ that beats in our chests. So Jesus was talking about being pure in our emotions. This is easier for some than it is for others but that doesn’t let any of us off the hook for making sure we are paying close attention to what we are allowing into our hearts.
If we would be intentional about the things we allow to taint our lives we would find that there are things that tarnish and things that polish our lives. Our goal should be to determine which things in life polish us to purity and make the choices that fill our lives with them. Jesus said in doing so we would be blessed. But lives of purity don’t just affect our lives, having pure hearts gives us an entirely different look than those of people of the world and when we are living lives that are in stark contrast to the darkness of the world, people will see Jesus. His purity, His love, His character as a light in the darkness.
Making It Personal
How pure is your heart? In what ways do you need to clean up your heart and life? What dirty thing do you need to confess today?
Making It Personal Kids
What does it mean to be clean? How can you clean your thoughts? Do you need to ask Jesus’ forgiveness for something today?
Closing Prayer
Father, we confess that we have not been as intentional about being clean as we should be. Help us see filth for what it is so that we don’t find it enticing. Give us wisdom in what we see and hear. In Jesus’ name, amen.