Monday, June 4, 2012

Don't Try, Get Pure: Beatitudes Part 6: Matthew 5 Cont'd


tree walkway

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

In the day of Jesus, as in our day, there was great importance placed upon how people looked and conducted themselves, religious people did all sorts of things. Regular ceremonial washing, fasting and generous gifts to the needy were signs of people 'close to God.' Jesus turns this idea on its head, even though several of us continue to chase this lie of impressing God.

This idea of attempting to impress our Creator can be understood as an extension of our confusion in regards to sin. The majority believe enjoyment is best found in the morally compromising and vice of this world. Believers accepting the lie as truth, exaggerate self-righteousness, hoping that a far enough from the “fun,” would keep them from folly. This makes the Christian life what it was never meant to be: an ineffective chore.

Behavioral modification does not work for real life. When one busies themselves with not cursing, they curse all the more, but just feel worse after it occurs.

Imagine: a male co-worker of yours pacing the floor of his office up and down, repeating to himself: “I will not cheat on my wife, I will not cheat on my wife.” Would you congratulate this gentleman for his steadfastness or perseverance? No because he looks foolish. Anyone could point out his energy might be better spent on loving his wife. Once the heart changes, the actions follow.

Our relationship with God should work from the inside-out. Good deeds are important, but if they are not backed up by a heart changed by Jesus' love, they amount to nothing. The Apostle Paul referred to these heart-less acts as clanging cymbals (1 Corinthians 13:1).

When we allow God to clean up the mess in our hearts, we are promised that we will see Him. We will spend eternity with him, experiencing His good pleasures for us.

May we each continue to seek sincere heart change.

Questions:

  1. How do you feel when you feel forced to do things for others?
  2. What does being pure in heart mean to you? What picture (if any) do you get?
  3. What might it look like if believers were more concerned about the heart than the appearance of a person?

No comments:

Post a Comment