"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8
In Jesus day there were a group of people that were the "purity police". They went through life and deemed things or people either clean or unclean. In fact it was rather difficult to be on the "clean list". If you were not of a certain linage, hung with certain people, came in contact with certain foods and animals, were a woman on her monthly cycle, or you were born with an infirmity, etc., . . . you were considered unclean! You were not "worthy" to come before the holy God. Jesus changed all of that!! He looked at the heart!! "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!"
In the weeks following, what we know as the sermon on the mount, Jesus dirtied his hands. He touched people that were "unclean", he ate at people's houses that were "unclean", he went to an "unclean" land, touched and healed an "unclean" demoniac, and was surrounded by "unclean" animals. Jesus was giving us a living example that heart purity is what matters! It is through heart purity that you will see the kingdom of God.
Read Matthew 25:34-46, Jesus talks about those that did not see him. It is rather sobering! I want to see God! Lord, give me a pure heart and help me not to miss opportunities to minister to the hurting and the broken! Help me to get my hands dirty.
We closed the service with this song, I love the lyrics!
THIS IS OUR GOD
Who is this light
invading our darkness?
glorious might
the sun rising for us
invading our darkness?
glorious might
the sun rising for us
Conquering night
He captures the hardest of hearts
He captures the hardest of hearts
This is our God, living and breathing
call Him courageous, relentless, and brave
this is our God, loving and reaching,
scandalous mercy and mighty to save.
call Him courageous, relentless, and brave
this is our God, loving and reaching,
scandalous mercy and mighty to save.
Hallelujah, this is our God
sing praise
sing praise
Who is this One
who will not condemn us?
why would He come
to shoulder our sentence?
who will not condemn us?
why would He come
to shoulder our sentence?
Nothing we’ve done
will keep Him from giving us grace.
will keep Him from giving us grace.
Who is this One
we watch and we’re speechless?
God’s only Son
embracing our weakness.
we watch and we’re speechless?
God’s only Son
embracing our weakness.
He overcomes all death
and he frees us to live
and he frees us to live
This is our God, suffering and dying
call Him the hero redeeming the lost
this is our God, love sacrificing,
all that is holy, accepting our cross.
call Him the hero redeeming the lost
this is our God, love sacrificing,
all that is holy, accepting our cross.
Hallelujah, This is our God
sing praise.
sing praise.
