BLESSED ARE (PART 6)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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

Matthew 5:8

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

There is little doubt that the Lord desires for His people to seek purity in the way they live. For example, look at this exhortation from Paul’s first letter to Timothy:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

In the way we live, we should seek to set an example when it comes to living in purity just as Paul encouraged Timothy to do.

Paul had more to say to Timothy on this matter in his second epistle:

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

Note here that if purity of heart is possible, a person must eradicate wickedness from their life by fleeing from evil desires. Iniquity is to be exchanged for righteousness which leads a person to the kind of purity the Lord desires.

Finally, David had this to say about purity in the 24th Psalm:

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place?”

“The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.” Psalm 24:3-5

What does one gain from having “clean hands and a pure heart”?

David makes it clear that they will “receive blessing from the Lord” and as we look at our sixth Beatitude in today’s devotion, we find Jesus agrees with David’s promise. Look again at these words from our Savior:

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  Matthew 5:8

Our devotional series has been based on this matter of being blessed in certain situations with the word “blessed” actually meaning the word “happy” and that makes total sense in this instance, right?

Those who live in a way that shows their hearts are pure SHOULD be happy because they are living in a way that the Lord favors, a way that is pleasing in His sight. They get to that juncture only by being obedient to the scriptures and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their thoughts, words, and actions. Come to think about it, that’s what Jesus did, wasn’t it? He was always about His Father’s business, always seeking to please His Father with everything that He did, always obedient to His Father’s word, will, and way. And when we truly live as Christians, then we will live as Christ Jesus did, with a pure heart, as we model the way He lived all the way to eternity because of salvation He promised to bring to all who placed their belief in Him.

In other words, when we are pure in heart, living as Jesus did and gaining eternal life through placing our hope in Him, then there is nothing that is going to keep us from seeing God one day, the day when He opens up the doors of eternity to abide with us forever.

Truly, blessed (happy) are the pure in heart and I pray you are counted in that number today.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com