Be Attitude #6: Being RIGHT on the Inside

Scripture:

Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8 "You're blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

Observation:

Blessed are the pure in heart—those of integrity—for they shall see God. The word "pure" means unmixed, without alloy. Blessed are those with unmixed motives.

Throughout the Gospel of Matthew Jesus speaks of this integrity of commitment: "No one can serve two masters… . You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24); the narrow way leads to life and the broad way leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13); "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

Purity of Heart is to will one thing: a call for unmixed motives that seek only the will of God. This is the way of the disciple and the reward is that such "shall see God." The inference and requirement is that only such actually see Him.

This beatitude calls us to the most exacting self-examination. Perhaps we need to examine our motives in religious exercises more than in any other area. How easy it is to cover selfish ambition with the cloak of religious service. Throughout the sermon Jesus raises the issue of motive, asking that we serve not for the praise of men, not for conventional respectability, but with integrity of heart.

It has been said that in religious service there are three temptations: the first, the temptation to shine; the second, the temptation to whine; and the third, the temptation to recline.

Application:

This beatitude is one of the most quoted of all beatitudes, and the most difficult to live out. For who can claim to be pure in heart? When we look into our hearts, we all know that we are not pure, we have thoughts, attitudes, desires which are not pure. We may hide it from others, but we cannot hide it from ourselves, or from God. So, what can we learn from this beatitude? Let's start with some of the bible verses related to "pure in heart" and "seeing God", and let the Word of God speak to you though it.

Verses on being pure in Heart:

• Psalms 24:4-5 – “He who has clean hands and pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive the blessing from the Lord.”

• 1 Timothy 1:5 – ” The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart, and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

• Psalms 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

• Psalms 119:9-10 – “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart. Do not let me stray from your commands.”

Seeing God:

• Exodus 33:20 – “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

• 1 Timothy 6:16 – “Who is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.”

What does it mean to be "Pure in Heart":

• Pure is an absolute term. You cannot say that this is purer. Being pure itself means that it is not defiled, polluted or mixed with impurities.

• The heart is regarded as being the seat of the intellect, the feelings and the will. Often heart implies the whole moral nature of fallen man. (Jer 17:9)

• So, how can we make it pure? It is beyond our reach to make it pure. It is God who initiates, sanctifies and perfects the heart of man who put his trust in him. It begins when we realize that we cannot do it on our own. We go through the process of sanctification throughout our life. And it will be perfected when we will be glorified in Christ Jesus.

• Sanctification is a difficult process. Water has to go through heat and fire to be purified. Gold has to go though fiery furnace to be perfected.

• 1 Peter 1:6-7 – “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Prayer:

"Lord, thank You for these Beatitudes, they are challenging my heart and atttiude. I want to have a greater, more intimate relationship with You. I choose to pursue YOU.. But, how can we pursue purity? It is only by living, active fellowship with YOU through daily personal time together in Your Word and prayer, allowing You to purify me though the Holy Spirit in us – “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6). In Jesus' name, amen!"