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Purity of Heart

     The importance of purity cannot be denied. When we go out to eat dinner, we like to have confidence in the cleanliness of the restaurant. In fact, if the tables and chairs are dirty one could only imagine the condition of the kitchen. We all want our food and beverages to be free of impurities.

Likewise, God desires our hearts to be pure before Him. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) Any type of sin in our lives stains the heart, darkens the soul, and separates us from our God. Therefore, all impurity must be purged out from our hearts consistently.

The question is, how do we keep our heart pure before the Lord. It begins with the desire to be right with God. Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness would be filled (Matthew 5:6).  When one has the desire to be right with God, he will not stop seeking, learning, and growing until he has obtained.

The desire to be righteous leads us to repentance. Paul equates repentance to dying to sin.  He said, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:11) When we make the predetermined decision to be dead to sin and alive to God, the devil has less room to tempt us into doing that which is evil.

Another aspect of having a pure heart is found in guarding our affections. Jesus stated that the greatest commandment is to, “…love the Lord you God with all your heart with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.” (Mark 8:30). When we love our God with every fiber of our being, there is no room for impurities to creep in.

Finally, to be pure of heart is to become a living sacrifice before Him. Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)

Under the old law, sacrifices of bulls and goats were made regularly. Today, we are living sacrifices. That is, we have denied ourselves, taken up our cross, and are actively following Jesus. Being a living sacrifice means that we no longer seek after the indulgences of the flesh. Rather, our desires are intently focused upon pleasing God.

We all want to be pure in heart before the Lord. We want to see God some sweet day. When we desire righteousness, die to sin, love God with all we are, and live sacrificially before Him, we can truly be pure of heart.

 

God Bless each of you,

Eric Hicks

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