Pure in Heart
In the previous posting we introduced the attitude of “Pure in heart” as part of our discussion of Mercy. The precious attitudes covered were attitudes that dealt with the assignments and challenges you face as part of the training program to make the decision of loving yourself or God. Now we are going to look at an attitude that impacts the love of God you may have chosen as part of the decision. As part of that decision, we need to ask God to cleanse us from within, cleansing our hearts and spirits for new thoughts and desires. Right conduct (as covered under “doing the right thing”), can only come from a clean heart and spirit. Have you asked God to create a pure heart and spirit in you.
In the physical world, deception is acceptable. In God’s spiritual world only honesty is acceptable. In order for us to be near God we must be working to be free of the evil things that would bring us shame in our relationship with our lover God. And one of those He hates the most is dishonesty. Because God knows everything in our hearts and minds. And when we are dishonest, we are, in effect, saying that we don’t care how our lover feels and thinks; we want our way.
As lovers of God, our self-worth is based on the fact that God loves us and calls us to share love with him. We are His lovers now (that we made the decision to love him), not just sometimes in the distant future. Knowing that we are His lover should encourage us to live as Jesus modeled for us.
The Christian life is a process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. This process will not be complete until we see our lover – God, spirit to spirit, but knowing that it is our ultimate destiny should motivate us to purify our love in anticipation for meeting our lover – God, spirit to spirit. To purify means to work at becoming morally correct; much as a person in a loving relationship prepare (puts on the right clothes, takes a shower, etc.) to meet his/her lover, free from any corruption. God actually purifies us but we must take action to show God that we want that purification.
There is a difference in doing evil (sin) and continuing to sin. Even the most faithful lover sometimes commit sins, but they do not cherish a particular sin and choose to commit it again and again. A lover who commits a sin, commits to not committing it any longer (repents), confesses and accept the penalties for that shame brought to the love affair, and asks for and accepts the forgiveness offered. A person who continues to sin, by contrast, is not sorry for what he or she is doing. Thus this person never confesses and repents and never receives forgiveness. Such a person is in opposition to God, no matter what religious claims he or she makes. Thereby impacting their quality of life.
If we do work at being pure at heart, we will be able to receive the attitude of “Peace” and become a “Peacemaker,” in attitude. Covered in the next posting.
In the previous posting we introduced the attitude of “Pure in heart” as part of our discussion of Mercy. The precious attitudes covered were attitudes that dealt with the assignments and challenges you face as part of the training program to make the decision of loving yourself or God. Now we are going to look at an attitude that impacts the love of God you may have chosen as part of the decision. As part of that decision, we need to ask God to cleanse us from within, cleansing our hearts and spirits for new thoughts and desires. Right conduct (as covered under “doing the right thing”), can only come from a clean heart and spirit. Have you asked God to create a pure heart and spirit in you.
In the physical world, deception is acceptable. In God’s spiritual world only honesty is acceptable. In order for us to be near God we must be working to be free of the evil things that would bring us shame in our relationship with our lover God. And one of those He hates the most is dishonesty. Because God knows everything in our hearts and minds. And when we are dishonest, we are, in effect, saying that we don’t care how our lover feels and thinks; we want our way.
As lovers of God, our self-worth is based on the fact that God loves us and calls us to share love with him. We are His lovers now (that we made the decision to love him), not just sometimes in the distant future. Knowing that we are His lover should encourage us to live as Jesus modeled for us.
The Christian life is a process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. This process will not be complete until we see our lover – God, spirit to spirit, but knowing that it is our ultimate destiny should motivate us to purify our love in anticipation for meeting our lover – God, spirit to spirit. To purify means to work at becoming morally correct; much as a person in a loving relationship prepare (puts on the right clothes, takes a shower, etc.) to meet his/her lover, free from any corruption. God actually purifies us but we must take action to show God that we want that purification.
There is a difference in doing evil (sin) and continuing to sin. Even the most faithful lover sometimes commit sins, but they do not cherish a particular sin and choose to commit it again and again. A lover who commits a sin, commits to not committing it any longer (repents), confesses and accept the penalties for that shame brought to the love affair, and asks for and accepts the forgiveness offered. A person who continues to sin, by contrast, is not sorry for what he or she is doing. Thus this person never confesses and repents and never receives forgiveness. Such a person is in opposition to God, no matter what religious claims he or she makes. Thereby impacting their quality of life.
If we do work at being pure at heart, we will be able to receive the attitude of “Peace” and become a “Peacemaker,” in attitude. Covered in the next posting.