IF YOU’RE PERFECT, DON’T READ THIS
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.’ Matthew 5:8 NKJV
‘“You’re blessed when you get your inside world — your mind and heart — put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.’ Matthew 5:8 MSG
I need a little bit of grace on this devotional today as my bride is pretty sick in bed. I’m juggling the 3 little ones, plus a couple of them with schoolwork, plus making sure my work with Pastor Brian C. Houston is all litty 🔥. So, thanks for taking a walk and talk with me. Here we go …
Most of us probably know the old story of Jesus on the hillside spitt’n what we know as “The Beattittudes”. In verse 8, Jesus takes a killshot to the heart. A few days back I wrote about the heart as it applies to tricking the f out of you. You can check it out here.
But today, today is all about the ultimate goal of purity for our hearts. Is it bad that when I type the word purity, all I can think about is Tony Montana from Scarface doing blow? It’s bad, I know, I’m sorry. But, in the movie, the blow is all about purity. The more pure, the costlier. That’s another post, so let me find another example for those who are more pure than I (wink).
I think kids can be the best candidates to watch the purity of one’s heart. If you have kids, you know. If not, it’s the reason we love to watch kid videos. They are just so honest. It’s the purity of the heart. The innocense is beautiful. I love watching kids come on Hell’s Kitchen as critics and just destroy a famous chef’s dish, that to me is pure entertainment. Here is a 9 year old, telling you how your whatever, whatever, deconstructed tasted like dog food.
So, what about this verse. “Yes, sorry, sidetracked again on Food Network shows. Geez Anthony, get it together man.”
If you’re like me, you read this and say, “cool, I want to see God, so how do I purify my heart?”
In the world we are in now, everything around us is focused on purity or cleanliness. The corona virus has made purell hand sanitzer as valuable as gold to some people. Many of us refuse to drink tap water. Who would have thought we would know what an N95 mask is? How have we become experts in understanding our own respiratory system? WTF is that?
While many things are induced by fear, in this passage, Jesus is asking us to clean our hearts. Our hearts meaning, our soul. Our soul being the focus of our lives.
I want to fire a few questions your way. As you read them, think about where it applies in your life.
What does your heart desire? What is the focus of your life?
If you were to purify your heart, how would you do it?
Do you feel your heart is not pure? If not, why?
Who are 2–3 people in your life who you would say have a pure heart? Why do you think they do and can you apply their success to your own life?
For me, I’m hardly perfect. I joke many times with people about how I “just want to get into heaven”. I say it joking, but there’s an element of truth. I don’t ever want to take my salvation for granted. It has to be real.
If I could leave you with anything today, know this. Jesus didn’t say this because you can’t do it. He didn’t say it because you suck at life. He said it to show you how amazing your pure heart can be. He’s seen the potential of your heart. He created you. He knows your greatness. And, if you feel as if you’re lacking the ability to see God, now is your time.
Here is a couple verses that have helped me:
‘Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord ? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.’ Psalms 24:3–4
‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ‘ James 4:8
‘Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ‘ Matthew 22:37
Let’s pray:
Jesus, help me today with my heart. You gave us the instruction to go after a pure heart, so help me change what needs to be changed. Open my eyes to see what I couldn’t see before. I want to see more of you in all I do. Amen.
