As we continue our survey of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, I couldn’t help but camp out on God’s approval (blessing) for the pure in heart. I believe in Jesus, acknowledge my need for Him and accept His free gift of salvation. So do I a ‘pure in heart’ sticker? When do I get to see God?
In my meditations last week on the “blessed are those who mourn” Beatitude, I was reminded of Paul’s exclamation in Romans 7 – “What a wretched man I am! Who will set me free from this body of death?” I totally relate to this. My sin nature is ever-present, constantly tempting me to do what I know I shouldn’t. If I’m honest with myself – like Paul was in Romans 7 – then I’ve got a real pollution problem. Instead of a pure heart, mine is tainted. Maybe I don’t qualify for a sticker after all.
This awareness of my sin nature didn’t just suddenly hit me this past week. But what I’m reminded of in this study is the effect sin has on my live. It hinders my ability to see God – my ability to see where He’s leading me, what His plan is for me, what He’s wanting to teach me, how He’s answering my prayers (or why He’s not).
If we want to see God so we can live life His way, we have to deal with our pollution problem. Here’s how:
Step 1: Stop polluting the heart with sin
- What kind of company do you keep?
- What kind of jokes do you laugh at?
- What kind of movies do you watch?
- What websites do you visit?
Step 2: Deal with the remnants of pollution already in the heart
- Is there a resentment or unforgiveness you need to deal with?
- Is there something you need to apologize for?
The good news is that we have help with our cleanup work. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
I cherish the time I spend each week with the two men I meet with for accountability. We have given each other complete access and permission to ask the tough questions – the private, embarrassing, none-of-your-business kind of questions – to keep each other on the right path. If you’re not already meeting with an accountability partner or are unsure what that would look like, read this good article and prayerfully choose someone to start with. It’s an investment of time and transparency that helps tremendously with having a pure heart. Who knows, you might even get a sticker.
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