Verse: Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Devotion
It is wonderful how the words that Jesus spoke and are recorded in verses of “The Beatitudes” in Matthew chapter 5 are so simple, true, and filled with so much depth and encouragement.
“Blessed are …”
To be “blessed” is to be abundantly happy and the tense of the word “are” can be read to mean happening right now. When we follow Jesus, God is involved in our lives each day and that brings true happiness. We are blessed when we can see how God has been working in our lives. We also will be blessed/abundantly happy when we get to see Him in eternity.
“… the pure in heart …”
When I think of what it means to be pure, I think of being absolutely of one substance. As Jesus explained, purity comes from being absolutely perfect without sin in our hearts. He showed us that we cannot achieve that purity on our own – we need a Savior. We are made pure through the sacrifice that he made with his life for us. As we follow Jesus, we can keep our heart pure by focusing on his word. As it says in Psalm 119:9-11 (ESV): “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
“… for they will see God.”
Wouldn’t it have been so amazing to be alive to see Jesus with our physical eyes? Won’t it be so awesome to see Jesus in eternity?
It seems that God has created us with a longing in our hearts to see him. Just as it says in Psalm 27:4 (ESV): “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”
It has taken me some years to come to a place where I understand that God is beautiful, like that verse says. Along the way, I’ve learned this in parallels from my earthly life. For instance, when I am away from my family and loved ones I long to see them. I miss the beauty of those I love, and that human beauty comes from God’s beauty – as we are told in the Bible, we all are made in God’s image. God also shows us his beauty in creation. I love to see a sunrise over the ocean, a sunset with all its colors in the clouds, and the stars in the sky. That beauty comes from a beautiful Creator.
Still, it can be hard to imagine what it will be like to see God. But the book of Revelation in the Bible contains some amazing verses that certainly help, as John described what Jesus looked like in his vision. If you haven’t ever or recently read it, check out Revelation 1:12-18 and think of Jesus as you do.
Prayer
Father, please create pure hearts in us through Jesus, so that we can see you – both now in this world as we are guided by your Holy Spirit and when we meet you face to face. Amen.
Author: Chris Fraser
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