Matthew 5:7-12
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Devotion
I truly wish we could cover all of the beatitudes found in Matthew chapter five, but time will not allow this. I highly encourage you to take the time to study this passage of Scripture thoroughly. As mentioned in day one, these beatitudes state what kingdom-subjects are to be. This, once again, has to do with the character of those who inhabit the kingdom of heaven. While we are on this earth, God is shaping our character so that we will rightly represent Him and His kingdom in the here and now and in the future.
Today we will look at the sixth beatitude. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart.” This is probably the most comprehensive of all the beatitudes. No honest person can say that their heart is completely pure. How can the human heart, which is desperately wicked, be made clean? Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). It is by the washing of regeneration that we are made clean. Only the blood of Christ can cleanse us from all sin. True Christianity lies in the purity of the heart.
The heart must be kept from the lusts of the flesh and impure thoughts and desires. The heart must be purified by faith! This is why David declared, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” The mind is the gateway to the heart. Therefore, Solomon tells us to guard our hearts/minds. This can be a challenge when we are constantly bombarded with messages that are anti-God and anti-faith. We must be diligent to saturate our thoughts with the Truth of God’s Word. Then and only then will we see God in all His fullness!
The promise that comes from this beatitude is that we “will see God.” Seeing Him, as we may by faith in our present state, is heaven upon earth. Seeing Him, as we will in the future state, is the heaven of heaven. The blessing or happiness of seeing God is promised only to those who are pure in heart. A pure heart does not mean a perfect heart. As long as we are in this flesh, we will always struggle with our sinful nature. A pure heart is one that is striving to know God in all His fullness. A pure heart is one that is being transformed and renewed each day by God’s Word. Every day we must choose to yield our will (minds) and our ways (bodies) to God. The pure in heart truly see themselves as living sacrifices (read Romans 12:1-2).
Questions to Ponder:
What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? Are you constantly filling your mind with the truth of God’s Word? What forces do you allow to influence your thought processes? David was not perfect, but he was considered a man after God’s own heart. Are you a man or woman who is actively pursuing the heart of God?
Prayer Points
- Worship the Lord.
- Confess any sins you are aware of. Ask the Spirit of Truth to search your heart and reveal to you any hidden sins toward Him and others. Repent, receive His forgiveness and love, and walk in the light and freedom of His embrace.
- Ask Him to give you greater desire for Him.
- Commit to God to be in His Word daily. Share your commitment with others so they can be your accountability partner.
Suggested Prayer
Father, I confess You are so good, patient, merciful, kind, good and perfect to me. Thank You Lord for Yourself. Thank You for saving me and for being with me. You are faithful. You are pure.
Father forgive me for a wandering heart and mind. I confess delayed obedience and lust of the flesh. I confess compromise in so many areas of my heart and mind. Forgive me for times I have watched, listened, read, talked about things that were not of Your kingdom, but rather of the kingdom of this world.
Help me Lord to nail to the cross those things that bring death to me and others. Enable me to love Your Word; to understand it, grow in it, live it out, and share it with others. I want to be a trophy of grace. Saturate my heart and mind with Holy things that will bear fruit for Your kingdom. Help me Lord as I surrendered to You daily. Help me as I walk in Your truth. Help me to live it out with You and for You. I want to see You Lord. I ask that You make something beautiful out of my broken life before You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask. Amen.