Blessed are the pure in heart | Westside Eagle Observer

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

Matthew 5:8

Psalm 24 asks the question: "Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully" (verses 3-4). Who is it that will be privileged to stand in God's presence and see His face? Jesus says that it is "the pure in heart."

Being pure in heart is more than just outward obedience to God's commandments; it is loving God with all the heart, mind and soul, and having nothing but holy thoughts and desires as well! The problem is: Whose heart is pure? Jesus said of the most religious people of His day, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me...." (Matthew 15:8, quoting from Isaiah 29:13). He also said, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man...." (Matthew 15:19, 20).

How can we have a clean and pure heart? Only through faith in the shed blood of Jesus, for the Bible tells us that it is His blood that "cleanses us from all sin" and makes us acceptable in God's sight (1 John 1:7; Ephesians 1:6, 7; Colossians 1:12-14, 19-23)! For the sake of Jesus, God reckons those who trust in Him to be righteous and holy.

Of course, those who trust in Jesus' blood and righteousness for pardon and acceptance in God's eyes also desire to be "pure in heart." After confessing His sin and turning to the LORD for forgiveness, David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God...." (Psalm 51:10). And so, we also, who trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, desire that God would create in us pure and undivided hearts to love and serve Him and keep His commandments, for it is our desire to see our Savior when He appears and to be like Him (cf. 1 John 3:2-3; Psalm 119:1ff.).

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, my heart is evil and defiled by sin. Forgive my sin for the sake of Your blood shed for me upon the cross, and create in me a clean heart that I might love You and serve You all of my days. Amen.

Community on 07/08/2015