Following directions to get from one place to another is sometimes difficult. Even using a map or listening to a distant voice speak to us on a global positioning system often create suspicion. Often, we have feelings of uncertainty until we arrive safely at our intended destination.
There was no doubt in the mind of David if someone wanted directions from God. It is a clear if/then. “If,” David wrote, “you want to stand in His presence, ‘then’ you must have clean hands and a pure heart.” Hands refers to our actions and hearts refers to our attitudes. Certainly, the word “pure” would eliminate most of us. In our moments of honesty and openness before God, we all recognize our soiled hands and devious hearts. What then are we to do if we want to plead our case before God? Who can say, “My hands are clean and my heart is pure?”
Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” There is little doubt that any of us will achieve a pure heart in this life. Was Jesus teasing us? Indeed not!
In the beatitudes Jesus is talking about how we are to live. And He knew that we could never achieve the goals for Christian living that He was talking about.
So, what are we to do? Give up? No! In the beatitudes He is talking about motives! He wants us to have an inner attitude and desire to continually seek the Lord by reading His Word, seeking to know Him, and then honoring Him by the way we live.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your Word that shows us the way to find our way into Your presence. May our motives be pure and our live sincere. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure. Psalm 24:3-4
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Thank you for the word, I’m struggling in living the way I m supposed to. In some way life as a whole seems to be a big joke. We should no focus on material, money, power etc, but life crashes us when you lack those things.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger I used to believe that life was great but with some sad moments, but lately I think life is 99% struggle and 1% ok
I know I’m wrong. I’m being a Christian for time enough to know better but I think I left my guard down. To know something and not to do it I think is harder because you are always fighting but unfortunately getting my......... kicked