This morning as I was spending some time studying and meditating on Matt 5 (per Jim’s recommendation from the pulpit yesterday) – Matt 5:8 jumped out at me.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
What an incredible promise! Immediately, I remembered a word we’d received a week ago that Allen and I have pure hearts. Wow. Suddenly Matthew 5:8’s promise was all the more amazing, because I deeply desire to “see God”!
As I meditated on this some more, I wondered what else the Word says about a pure heart.
3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Another amazing promise… to ascend the hill of the Lord or stand in His holy place!
He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
Will have the king for his friend? Again, wow! I translate this to mean – favor…
In addition, there’s a number of places where we’re called to agape love out of a pure heart (1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Peter 1:22) and one where you can easily discern that “righteousness, faith, charity (agape love), peace” are the fruit of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).
Lord, I pray that my heart would be pure! And Allen’s too. I pray that we would also have clean hands and gracious speech. Continue Your refining work in us – we submit to Your work joyously! We trust that You will cover us with Your grace in the midst of refining trials… we love You Lord. Have Your way… in Jesus’ name. Amen.
I love your heart…
God is so awesome 🙂
This past weekend, Kent led worship and it was all about clean hands and a pure heart – we paused to pray Psalm 24!
Thank You Lord!