“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.”