“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:8) (Beatitude #6)
In this series, I haven’t told you yet what the word Beatitude means. The dictionary says it is “a state of extreme happiness or bliss.” Each Beatitude starts with the Greek word “makarioi” [pronounced ma-kah-ree-oy] translated “Blessed.” But some versions translate it as “Happy.” To the Jewish reader in Jesus’ day, it was a word that meant to live a full life of trusting God, following his commandments, enjoying his blessings, and being thought of by others as a very blessed and happy person.
In our journey thus far, we have gone from humility, turning to God, releasing our old ways, being genuine and self-accepting, and becoming hungry and thirsty for the best life God has for us, to leaping forward into a life that shows mercy and compassion to others. In this process we are being transformed inwardly from a self-centered person into someone who is “pure in heart.”
This doesn’t mean perfect. We are human, and often must remind ourselves and others that “nobody’s perfect.” It is a way of admitting that all of us are right sometimes and wrong sometimes … and that’s OK. But as we change, we are becoming more like Jesus in our behaviors, attitudes, interests, and purposes. The word for this process is “sanctification,” meaning “being made holy.”
Growing up in my family in which my Dad was a pastor, I sensed an expectation from many sources that I was supposed to be perfect. And so, I tried … and failed miserably. Based on my personal experience, perfectionism is not recommended! There is a healthier way.
The Christian life is not about earning perfection, but rather is a relationship with God, who by his grace and through our faith, “clothes us with the righteousness of Christ.” He declares us to be acceptable in his sight because Jesus paid the price for it. (See Scriptures below.)
This “new life” has a purification aspect to it. It is not about being pressured into being perfect, constantly struggling and stressing, feeling unacceptable. Rather … it happens like this … as our life of faith gets better and stronger, we begin to lose desires for certain things we used to like that were bad for us. In addition, we see things in ourselves that hinder us and decide to lay them aside for his sake.
Think of the oil filter in a car. It removes impurities. And this is what the presence of the Holy Spirit within us is doing. Were there undesirable, unhealthy, or sinful things within you that you used to like and gravitate toward but are no longer interesting or tempting to you? As you mature in faith, you begin to be increasingly less interested in self-destructive things. This is what Jesus is talking about … the “pure in heart” … those persons who are having the “junk” filtered out of them.
Many years ago, I decided to switch from secular music to Christian music on the radio. It didn’t happen instantly! I tried a little bit at a time. After a couple of songs, I would have to go back to my rock-n-roll station. But more and more, the contemporary Christian station became my “go to.” Sometimes, I would listen to those good old songs from the 60’s and 70’s … the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel … but after two or three songs, I would have to go back to my Christian station, and I became blessed by that. Secularism was being “filtered” out of me. I still occasionally listen to those old songs, but my norm has changed.
And the more this purification happens, the more you “see God.” You see him more clearly for who he is, and you see him in many situations and people. You increasingly feel clean, alive, more interested in enjoying God’s way of life, and less interested in getting into hurtful behaviors that leave you with problems.
Today’s word is “purification” rather than “purity,” because it is more about a process than a demand for instant perfection. We still need to maintain those beginning steps of humility and genuineness, that hunger for more, and that merciful attitude, as we move on to higher levels of maturity.
Purity is a worthy concept, but be patient, purification takes time. In the meantime, are you feeling it? There is a new you, the best you, emerging.
May your life be blessed!
Chaplain Mark
CLOTHED WITH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2nd Corinthians 5:21)
“… so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith …” (Philippians 3:8b-9)
“And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)
NOTE: If you have not read the previous articles about each Beatitude, you should scroll further down and read previous days’ entries and catch up. We are discussing the faith journey toward Christian maturity as described by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
The Beatitudes … Matthew 5:2-10 (NRSV)
2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”