Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
This week, Michael writes that spiritual battles are not won on the front lines. The spiritual battle is won in the preparation for battle. Then when confronted by enemy fire, the trained soldier who has prepared for the spiritual battle can position his shield to quench the finery darts of the wicked one – the devil. He can wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God to sever the bands of oppression that have captivated the minds and hearts of men and women against their will.
The sixth beatitude says, blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. There is a progression of blessings before we can become pure in heart. First blessed are first poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Then Blessed are those who mourn over sin that separates our hearts from God, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the meek to receive God’s right teaching, reproof and correction, for they shall inherit the earth. Then blessed are those who are merciful to others, for they will receive God’s mercy. Purity of heart is a challenge when surrounded by a world bombarded by the sinful world’s distractions, pitfalls, panic pestilence, pandemic and pandemonium. Keeping a pure heart begins with repentance of sin and our righteousness in Christ.
A good servant of the Lord understands the love for his Master. A faithful slave says, “Here am I Lord, send me.” In the Old Testament, a slave was obligated by debt or a contract for indentured servitude to work for his master for a period of six years. He gave the labor of his hands to serve his master. After he had paid his debt of service, the master was obligated to set him free. A slave who toiled under a harsh taskmaster was eager to be set free. However, if the servant loved his master and wanted to continue to serve him for the rest of his life, he could appeal to his master to receive him as a bond-slave for life. The bond is not of obligation or contractual duty. The bond is a bond of love. The greater freedom is to serve his master from a heart of love.
The Pharisees thought that they were righteous for keeping the letter of the laws because they had set up as standards for their own self-righteousness. However, they forgot the first and great commandment: thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength. In keeping their interpretation of the Old Testament Law, they worshipped their own actions and their own selfish hearts, they broke the first of the ten commandments ... you shalt have no other Gods before me. Jesus said to the Pharisees, you are of your father the devil. He was a liar from the beginning and you’re just like your father ... you twist the scriptures and pervert the Word of God, forsaking God’s Word to follow the commandments of men. You are a cemetery ... green and lush with flowers and neatly manicured landscaping, but underneath you are white washed sepulchers ... underneath you are a grave yard filled with dead men’s bones.
Let's continue Michael's message on the pure in heart in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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