THE PURE IN HEART

WEDNESDAY 22 JUNE 2022

An impure heart creates an unfavourable atmosphere that can reduce the chances of success or flow of divine encounters in one's life. However, such heart can be corrected by following the teachings of Christ, known as the "Sermon on the Mount." The Beatitudes is one of the most popular sermons in the new testament Scriptures and today we shall examine the blessings of being pure in heart, which help us to succeed in this world and to run well in our race of faith.

Reference: Matthew 5:8 New International Version (NIV)

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

The pure in heart are not the ones who are above faults, but the ones who have a heart for God. To be "pure" in heart suggests an inward condition of having no ulterior motives, inappropriate and abominable intentions. It's more than being godly outwardly or just having a moral well-being. The pure in heart is not the devoutly religious mind, or a person with angelic looks and innocent appearance but the one whose perception is free of deceit and machination both towards God and man. The pure-hearted is habitually crammed with unblended and unadulterated thoughts towards God and man. The synonyms for the Greek rendering are as follows: pure, unmixed, undiluted, immiscible, unallowed, unmingled, chaste, innocent, immaculate, unpolluted. Simply put, the pure in heart are the people whose motives are pure.

God is always interested in the matters of the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV) says, "...For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." This is the reason what is highly prized among men can be detestable before God because God scans the heart oftentimes, beyond human discernment. Considering some Biblical stories, God did not favour men based on appearance, but often most honoured and blessed those who have been least regarded because of today's topic. So being pure in heart should be an ongoing experience for every Christian, in proportion to the work of grace in our hearts.

Now watch this: Our referenced verse noted that the pure in heart will see God. The expression, "They will see God" implies that God always comes through for them, especially when they are faced with unfavourable situations in life. Seeing God is not limited to going to heaven to meet Him when Jesus returns; seeing God here also denotes a sense of encountering His interventions, His power and His manifest presence when its needed most in your life. In the Bible, there was a man in a situation where everything seemed unfavourable, unpleasant and dreadful at a point in his life, and what was left was an inward inspiration emanating from his pure heart. Even when men surrounding him were considering his situation from the external appearance or standpoint, God already knew him.

The Bible said, 'Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil"' (Job 1:8 NIV). In another way, Job was evidently pure in heart and at the same time, he was advanced and prosperous in his outward circumstances. But when the enemy struck, he still maintained a pure heart and remained faithful all the way. Due to the true ground of his inner moral worth, the Lord eventually intervened on Job's behalf and His true judgement of sagacity penetrated his life because the sovereign hand of God was behind everything he encountered.

Beloved, victory and divine interventions easily come with pure heart and, therefore, the righteous must be determined to cultivate a pure heart and hold on to it, both in good and challenging times. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 24:3-5; Proverbs 21:8; Philippians 1:9-10; Philippians 4:8; Titus 1:15.

Guided Prayer:

Dear Father in heaven, I thank you for your grace and faithfulness at work in my life as I purify myself daily by feeding and meditating on the truth. By the empowerment of the Spirit, I cultivate a pure heart, sprinkled clean from all evil conscience. In full assurance of faith, I demonstrate it by thinking right, shunning evil and pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. I praise you today and always for the incalculable importance of shaping my life with your Word in Jesus' Name, Amen!