The Pure Hearts

Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

“Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.”

At first glance you may look at this and think, “Finally! This is one that I can wrap my mind around.” It seems so innocent and wonderful, but then reality sets in. Who are the pure in heart? Most of us would like to believe that each of us as firm believers are pure in our hearts. I know I would like to be, but when I look at myself I see the sinfulness of myself. Everyday I don’t always do or think as I should, I get frustrated with situations, a little pride seeps in here and there, I’m not always thankful for what I have and desire things that others have, I get jealous, etc. I’m sure that you get the point. Each of us can find ways in which we fall short, but often we are like the Pharisee in the temple praying, “At least I’m not as bad as that guy!” But in God’s eyes we are.
There are those in this world that relate and know that they fall short, but despair in that grief. They feel that they are worthless and if we are not careful the same can become true with us. The reality is this, IT HAS ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED! Jesus’ death on the cross took care of all that we have done wrong and it is in a relationship with Jesus that we find the pureness of heart. Our hearts become pure in God’s eyes when seen through the lens of Christ. That is the wonderful and precious gift that we received through Jesus Christ, each of us received a heart transplant. Our icky, dirty hearts are continually replaced with a pure clean and true heart provided through Christ. Now the process can be painful, but when you give in it will bring nothing but pleasure. May your heart be purified in Christ, so you may see the glory of God.

Merciful hearts

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:7 (NIV)

Remember when you were a child and you broke something of one of your parents or grandparents? I can remember a time when I was young and I broke a porcelain doll of my grandmothers. It was all an accident, but I felt so scared as to what she would do. It was the worst feeling in the world. It all turned out fine and my grandmother forgave me, but until I heard those words, “I forgive you.” I was in the greatest and lowest despair feeling as though my life was over. On the other hand I was not always and still am not always the most forgiving right off the bat when someone breaks something of mine or does me wrong, but I would have to say that it depends on who it is that does the act against me and is something that I struggle against when looking at these words of Jesus. Jesus was merciful to anyone who asked for His mercy, but we are often like the servant described in the Matthew 18:21-35. We receive the full glory and forgiveness of God, but when it comes to others we offer nothing of the sort.

Christ challenges us to lead with mercy in all situations and with all people and not to only offer it to the select few. Christ was merciful to all that he met and he offered an alternative to what was leading the lives of others. In our hearts we can receive full forgiveness and in the same way we need to let others walk in that same forgiveness. This doesn’t mean that you become a doormat, Jesus was not one to let others walk all over Him, but what it means is that when acting in mercy to offer an alternative, to turn the prism and allow them to see things in a different light. What is more honorable to care so fully that your name is remembered for all that were helped by you or to be known as someone that accrued great wealth, but never really being known by anyone. Who is truly the wealthy one?

“You're blessed when you care.
At the moment of being ‘carefull,’
you find yourselves cared for.”
Matthew 5:7 (The Message)