A Pure Heart (Aug 22)

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10

We've discussed purity before. It's one of those concepts that are pretty absolute. Webster defines it as “unmixed with any other matter” and also “free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes; containing nothing that does not belong.” I've used in the past the example of a bottle of water. The label claims that it contains pure water. If I were to dump a bunch of junk into the water, it would no longer be pure and you would be stupid to drink it. But what about if I only put a small amount of junk in? What if I only add one speck of dirt? What if the speck that I add is something seemingly harmless? You get the picture. As soon as there is even an itty-bitty speck of something that doesn't belong, it's no longer pure.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

God wants us to have a pure heart. He wants us to be completely, undividedly devoted to Him. No mixture, no side agendas, no hidden motives, no other loves, no other...

Let me share a selection by Chris Tiegreen, from his book Walk With God.

Jesus calls the pure in heart “blessed.” It is an elusive purity for us. We have a hard time maintaining inoffensive thoughts for long periods of time. We are tainted with misplaced motives and petty agendas. If we're really honest with ourselves and our God, we know the truth: our corruption runs deep.

Jesus knows the impossibility of a pure heart, and He offers to fill us with His purity. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, with an emphasis on the holy. Even so, our purity fluctuates as widely as does the vibrancy of our relationship with Him. What can we tell ourselves to avoid discouragement?

We must remember the essence of biblical purity. It is single-minded devotion to God. It does not imply that we will always have perfectly sinless thoughts. It means that the direction of our lives will be solidly, irrevocably invested in Him. When arguments between self and sacrifice resound in our hearts, the godly impulse will eventually win the argument. Perhaps we may fail many times. Regardless, our desire for godliness must remain steadfast. The “steadfast spirit” must constantly be renewed.

God knows the frailties of our character. The human heart is a fickle thing; it caves in to the voices of this world and the compulsions of our flesh. But it is redeemable, utterly redeemable. “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25, italics added).

Have we forgotten the call of the holy God He understands our imperfections, but He calls us above them. The pure in heart—the steadfast, passionate, faithful lovers of the Savior—are a work in progress. But it is a relentless work. Our direction never changes. God will always show more of Himself to those blessed enough to crave purity.

1 Peter 1:22-23

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.