“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). To be able to see God, one should be pure in heart.
Here we have another one of Jesus’ “blessed are” statements from his Sermon on the Mount. We call this list the Beatitudes. Jesus presently says that the “pure in heart” are honored, for they will see God. This does not mean they will be glad or happy all the time, however, it implies they ought not to feel utter hopelessness.
Christians today may relate purity with independence from moral ethics or sexual immorality. The individuals who previously heard Jesus’ words may have associated purity with keeping the law of Moses or completely observing the guidelines of the Jewish instructors. This would convey the feeling of being totally liberated from transgression.
Jesus zeroed in considerably more on the hearts of his audience, rather than their capacity to keep up the ceremonies of the law. He lectured against submitting to the law only in actions, instead of out of genuine love for God.
Purity, in its generally clear and unique importance, alludes to the possibility of something being, brought together, un-blended, or predictable. The pure in heart are centered on something singular, for this situation, that thing is God.
How Can We See God?
Jesus promised that individuals who are pure in their commitment to God will see him. This uncovers a surprising thought regarding God’s kingdom. Most Jews would have learned, at an early age, that no one can see God and live; for he is holy. However, Jesus says that the individuals who get into heaven will see God.
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure (1 John 3:2-3).
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
Since we are brought into the world as sinners (Psalm 51:5), our regular tendency is to satisfy ourselves as opposed to God. David followed that tendency when he took another man’s wife.
We likewise follow it when we sin in any capacity. Like David, we should request that God scrub us from the inside (Psalm 51:7), clearing our hearts and spirits to make way for new desires and new thoughts. Proper conduct only comes from having a clean heart and a clean spirit.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2).
We are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices. That implies day-by-day denying our own cravings and desires to follow Him, making all our energy and assets available to Him, and confiding in Him to direct us. We do this because of our appreciation that our wrongdoings have been pardoned.
Christians are to “not be conformed to the pattern of this world” (Romans 12:2). That implies we are not to have its conduct and customs that are misleading and toxic.
Our refusal to adjust to this present world’s qualities and values should go further than the degree of conduct and customs, it should be solidly established in our minds, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Only when the Holy Spirit reestablishes, re-teaches, and diverts our minds are we really changed (Romans 8:5).
1. We Are to Seek God
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Isaiah advises us to call upon the Lord while he is close. God is not wanting to move away from us — however, we frequently move a long way from him or erect a boundary between ourselves and him.
2. We Are to Focus on Christ and Things Above
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy —think about such things (Philippians 4:8).
What we put into our minds will be portrayed in our words and actions. Paul advises us to program our brains with thoughts that are just, true, unadulterated, of good report, upright, and worthy of praise. How many of us have issues with unclean thoughts and fantasies? We are to analyze what we are placing into our minds through television, books, movies, and magazines.
Most importantly, read God’s Word every day and pray. Request that he help us center our brains around what is acceptable and unadulterated. It takes practice however it is doable.
3. We Are to Stay Close to Christ
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:8).
How are we able to draw close to God? James gives five ideas:
- Submit yourselves therefore to God (4:7). Understand that we need his pardoning and follow him.
- Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (4:7). Try not to permit him to allure us and entice us.
- Cleanse your hands...and purify your hearts (4:8). That means to carry on with an unadulterated life. Be purified from transgression, supplanting it with God’s immaculateness.
- Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep (4:9). Try not to be hesitant to communicate profound ardent distress for our wrongdoings.
- Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up (4:10; 1 Peter 5:6). Humbling ourselves implies understanding that our value comes from God alone.
4. We Are to Guard Our Hearts and Minds
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).
Our hearts, our sensations of adoration and want, directs generally how we live, work, and play since we generally have the opportunity to do those things that we enjoy.
Solomon advises us to keep our hearts with determination (diligence), ensuring we focus on those desires that will keep us on the correct way, ensuring that our affections and desires push us toward the correct path.
For further reading:
How Can We Actually Taste and See that the Lord Is Good?
What Does it Mean to Seek God’s Face?
How Do We Seek First the Kingdom of God?
What Does it Mean to ‘Set Your Mind on Things Above’?
Should Christians Seek Revelation from God Apart from the Bible?
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