The Beatitudes Part 6

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."                          Matthew 5:8.  NKJV

William Barclay writes some strong words on this beatitude:

"Here is the beatitude which demands that all who read it should stop and think and examine themselves.
Jesus says it is only the pure in heart who shall see God. It is a warning thing to remember that, as by God's grace we keep our heart clean or as by human lust we soil them, we are either fitting or unfitting ourselves some day to see God. "
                                                                                            Copyright 1956 William Barclay

These are very serious words and may cause us to sit up and take notice and perhaps we need that because salvation is serious stuff, it's not a Santa Claus kind of fairy tale. It determines where we will spend eternity. The choice is down to us. We need to live our lives in such a way that we don't disqualify ourselves of the prize (Heaven), 'But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.' 1 Corinthians 9:27)

The Greek word for pure is katharos which actually means without blemish. Jesus has actually redeemed us 'with His precious blood as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.' (1 Peter 1:19). We're redeemed but we need to remain in this condition by walking with Jesus on a daily basis and not veering off the path.
Katharos means clean, undefiled and pure. The word describes physical cleanliness and inner purity. Sin pollutes and defiles but the blood of Jesus washes the stains away.

Katharos is regularly used for corn which has been winnowed or sifted and cleansed of all chaff. Do you get the idea? David Guzik says, 'Ultimately, this intimate relationship with God must become our greatest motivation for purity.'

So, we need to aim for purity. We'll never be perfect until we're standing before Jesus, but we can become close. There is no pressure or stress to perform this. Jesus has done it all for us and declared us not guilty. But we still need to do our part and that is by way of honouring Him, giving Him all the glory and totally living for Him. There really is no other way!

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com