Lent - Day 17: Blessed are the Pure in Heart

Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they will see God.

Matthew 5:8

"in the Hebrew culture, the heart referred to everything. The heart was the very center of personality. It was the center of the emotions as well as the mind, and it included the thinking process. Proverbs 23:7 says, 'As [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he.' " – Greg Laurie

Having a pure heart can not mean being flawless, because we all have sinned and come short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).  Gaining a pure heart is the Holy Spirit’s work,  transforming us into God’s likeness and character.  What is our part in the process?  I think Paul says it best: 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

 whatever is just, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,

if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things.

-Philippians 4:8

 

 

Open My Eyes

 Hayes Barton Baptist Church