To be pure in heart means that every motive, desire, and thought is conformed around what the Lord would want of us. It means that our hearts would be free of the pollution and guilt of sin, and our hands clean. And in that bright and radiant state of holiness…we would then see His beloved face and live forever in His presence.
Month: August 2013
Matthew 5:7 ” Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
Compassion towards others…in the world today, it may be a little difficult to find at times. We are so very concerned about ourselves and our needs, that we don’t even take the time to be kind to the check out clerk at the store, or the elderly person struggling with the heavy grocery sacks in the parking lot. But the Lord will judge us according to our mercy, or lack there of. His mercy in judgment of us will be based on how merciful we were to others while on this earth…to the degree we were merciful, He will be towards us.
Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Our bodies need food and water on a very regular basis, we can’t eat once a year and live. So it is with our relationship with the Lord…we need to spend time in the Bible daily, being filled with His Word. That Holy nourishment is every bit as important to our well-being as food and water. That’s why He extends the invitation to “Come all that are hungry and thirsty, for you will be filled.”
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
When I first hear the word meek, I think of a spineless, unassuming person, that’s too cowardly to do anything. But then I remember a chance meeting I had with a former CIA agent. He wasn’t that big of a man, he didn’t say but a few words, his demeanor was very unpretentious…but he commanded the entire room by what he didn’t do. He knew who he was and who he represented… and that self-confidence was almost palpable. Jesus was the same way…He didn’t have to prove anything. His real strength came from knowing who He was. And that should be true of us also, knowing who we are through Christ Jesus, and aware that in our weakness we are made strong in Him.
Matthew 5:4 ” Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Everyday we miss the mark and sin…but the big question is…how does it make you feel when you do sin? If you are unaffected and apathetic when you sin, too soon the sin will become very commonplace, and lead you down the wrong path. But if when you sin you are truly sorrowful, and ask the Lord for forgiveness… He will encourage you to get, brush yourself off, and try again.
Matthew 5:3 ” Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
In our mortal state, we are helpless, destitute beggars…spiritually bankrupt and lost. But if we acknowledge our dire situation, and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He will become very present and involved in our life. Suddenly, the Kingdom of God will dwell within our hearts, and we will be taken from beggar to joint heir with Jesus.
Joshua 1:9 ” Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
There are so many times that I think I hear God, but it’s quickly drowned out by doubts and fears that swirl around in my head, and the enemy’s voice whispering in my ear…”You can’t possible think you can do that!” But it’s at that potentially demoralizing time that I take stock in what the Lord has done in and through me in the past. I remember that He has never, ever left me…and never will. Finally, I remember that if I am obedient to Him…I have absolutely no need to fear anyone or anything…ever.
Acts 6:14 “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
We have been set free from the heavy yoke of the ceremonial observances of the Mosaic Law…so by not being subject to the Law any longer, it means we will not be judged by the Law and it’s impossible tenets either. For by the blood of Jesus, we have been set free from sin and the Law, and declared righteous by His unearned and unmerited favor… and that wonderful grace of His abounds for all.
Micah 7:7 ” But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me.”
The two verses prior to this one state that we cannot really rely on others…we cannot even trust family members, for all humans will ultimately let us down and disappoint us. But what Micah is declaring in this verse is that our trust must solely be in the Lord Himself, and not man. Our hope must be totally in God, having confidence that it will never be dashed.
II John verse 6 ” And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands.”
First Service of Church had just gotten over as I made my way down to the area where we usually sat. Turning into the pew I was confronted by this huge biker…complete with black leather, tattoos, piercings and long ponytail. My first startling impression was,” WOW! You must really feel out of place in this square box Church.” He smiled and held out his hand, “Hi!”. We shook hands and started chatting, and as my husband came up behind me he heard me invite this stranger home to share Sunday Dinner. Now I must tell you that it was wholly the Holy Spirit speaking through me, because in my flesh I would never invite a perfect stranger into my home…but what followed was a miracle. For the next few years this man would eat at our home every Thursday evening. Yes, he had lots of rough edges, and his past was quite checkered…from pimping, to prison time for murder, to riding with a well-known biker gang. But despite it all, the Lord had gotten ahold of him, and he was trying to make a new start. Every Thursday night Landy and I would encourage, mentor, and affirm what the Lord was doing in his life…We watered the seed and watched God grow it. Years later, he called us to come and see him installed as pastor of a biker church in town. It was truly a blessing to see what God had done in his life.
Safetypinlove 