PURE IN HEART: A GODLY CHARACTERISTIC OF THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE LORD

SCRIPTURE:
He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from 
extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears 
against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil ~ this
is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain 
fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him. 
(Isaiah 33:15-16)

MEDITATION:
Being pure in conduct 
includes being honest and having integrity when dealing with others. 
A Christian should be known in his neighborhood, or place of business, 
as an honest person; a person who can be trusted.

Jesus said that those with a pure heart will see God.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8) 
What does it mean to “see God”?
It means that we understand His love and we know what He expects of us.
It also means that we elevate Him above all others.

As a contrast, some people fall into preacher worshipping.
When that happens, they take everything a pastor says as gospel 
without checking to see if it matches up to God’s Word.
If you ask sincere pastors, 
they will encourage you to compare their words to the scriptures.

Why would they do that?
Because they know that if they speak enough, 
they will accidentally misstate some things, 
or something they say will be misinterpreted.

As an example, a pastor might say that you can worship at home.
However, what he means is that you can ALSO worship at home, and not
that you can avoid attending corporate worship with other believers.
If we compare a statement such as “you can worship at home”, 
to Hebrews 10:24-25, it is easy to see 
that it does not match what God demands of His people.

If a professing believer leans toward a pastor’s comment that conflicts 
with God’s Word, then they are allowing themselves to choose 
to follow a sinful man (yes pastors are also sinners saved by grace), 
instead of obeying God’s Word.
It is choosing man over God, which is lowering God’s rightful place.

Many times it is a choice of convenience over faithful obedience.
This is not the kind of choice a person who “knows God” would make.
And the sad part is, 
they may not realize the consequences of their choice until it is too late.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, 
but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will 
say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in 
your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then 
I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 
(Matthew 7:21-23)

Do you want to be happy? 
Then be honest and apply the Beatitude of “pure in heart” to yourself.
The pure in heart can know what it means to be supremely happy. 
Their hearts are pure toward God and, as a result, are pure toward others. 
They are happy because, in possessing Him (who is All and in All), 
they are not envious of any man’s worldly goods.

They are happy because they cherish God’s approval 
instead of desiring another man’s praise. 
Since they are the enemy of no man, they regard no man as their enemy. 
The result is peace with God and peace with others.

ACTION:
Would others describe you 
as a person who is ‘pure in heart’, who is honest and has integrity?
If you are a Christian and this is not how others would describe you,
then obviously you need to make some changes in your life and priorities.
Don’t look for reasons to justify disobeying God.
Instead, obey the commands He has given you in His Word.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I bow before You and ask Your forgiveness if I have been
guilty of following the comments of any man over obeying Your commands. 
Thank You for calling certain people to be expositors and sharers of Your 
Word, but grant me the wisdom to know that when there is conflict, Your Word
always take precedence. Teach me to always be honest with others, with 
myself and most importantly, with You. Forgive me, Lord Jesus, if my heart 
is far from pure. I confess to You all my innermost thoughts.”