Evidence of a pure heart

 

In a discussion about fear, one person said that he feared people would see the mistakes he makes and determine if he is what it is like to be a Christian, they would not want to be one. He wanted others to see only Jesus in his life. This seems to me the goal of the pure in heart. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8), at least the last part.

A wise person once said that mistakes are not going to ruin a Christian testimony, only what we do about them has that power. Obviously, I’m not to cover them up. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13) Instead of restricting confession before God, I’ve learned that confessing them to those who have observed my sinfulness creates an open door to talk about the One who forgives sin. It puts us both in the same boat instead of ‘me saint, you sinner.’

Not only that, forsaking that sin is another declaration of the power of God. An unsaved person might admit a wrong, even stop doing it for a time, but that admission and their self-control does not change the heart when it is done only to impress those who watch.

MacArthur points out that there are only two kinds of religion in the world: those based on human achievement and those based on divine accomplishment. The former says you can earn your way to Heaven; the latter says you must trust in Jesus Christ alone. And this second kind is not popular with those who believe in the first one.

People in both camps make mistakes. This is our common ground. What we do with our sinfulness is different. First, Christians call it sin. That is evidence of a pure heart. We also do not make excuses for it, blame-shift, or try to conceal it, at least after learning how doing that gets us nowhere. As God says:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

And this is a truth we can share with fellow sinners, the unsaved around us. But this cannot happen if I fall into the trap of relying on my achievements. Those who do that tend to compare themselves to others in a self-justifying standard because we can always find someone worse than ourselves on which to base the comparison.

Here is another sharable truth: Jesus eliminated human standards by saying, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). This means that when I share my failures, or someone else admits a failure to me, I can say only God is perfect and add this is why I trust in the perfections of His Son and rely on His forgiveness — on my own, I have no perfections. Besides, unsaved people already know that.

Besides this truth, today’s devotional points out that God doesn’t compare me to liars, thieves, cheaters, child abusers, or murderers. He compares you to Himself. His absolute holy character is the standard by which He measures my suitability for Heaven and on my own, I fall short of that because I sin, I’m selfish and make all sorts of foolish mistakes. Jesus died for all of that, taking my sin upon Himself, paying its penalty, and then then gave me His righteousness. He keeps me by continually cleansing my sin as I admit it and empowering me to stop that and instead live His way. These things can be shared through the doorway of admitting sin.

Again, faith in Christ — not my personal achievements — makes me pure in heart. And my failures help me identify with others who fail and even opens doors to tell them the good news . . . if I don’t try to hide my sins and impress them with how good I am. They cannot yet relate to the purity God gives but they do know the reality of human error and sin and I can connect to them on that reality, then hopefully share with them the greater and liberating truth about Jesus.

Lord, I know the folly of looking down my nose as if I am better than unsaved people. It is You that saves me, not me or anything I do, and it is You that purifies my heart. I cannot take credit for that either, nor for the goodness of life that comes from trusting You. May I have humility to admit sin and boldness to share that and my hope in You with others, especially those who don’t yet know the wonder of having a heart that can see You.

READ: Psalm 24:1–5 and Ezekiel 36:25–29. Who is acceptable to God? How does God purify the hearts of His people?

 

The same God . . .

Numbers 29:1–40, 1 Corinthians 11:17–12:11, Psalm 24:1–10

The God of the OT is the same God in the NT. However, some of what God does and the way He treats sinners changes because of Jesus Christ. For instance, in the OT, forgiveness and grace for the sins of His people were tied to many, many offerings . . .

“These you shall offer to the Lord at your appointed feasts, in addition to your vow offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your grain offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.” (Numbers 29:39)

In the NT and because of Jesus Christ’s offering, we are not required to offer lambs and bulls and grain, but we are required to behave as His people. His instructions for life in His kingdom are specific. For instance, the instructions for sharing communion were given to a church that was rebuked for their carnal behavior. Paul said to them about their problems . . .

“But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.” (1 Corinthians 11:17–19)

A few verses later, he describes the seriousness of those problems: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (1 Corinthians 11:27–29)

Some of that judgment involved their health, even their very lives: “That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.” (1 Corinthians 11:30–34)

What does it mean to participate in the Lord’s Supper in an “unworthy manner?” Often, in today’s church we are told not to take communion if there is unconfessed sin in our lives, which is considered being “unworthy.” But when I hear that, I think, “Is that unconfessed sin only the sin that I know about? Everyone has unconfessed sin. Does that mean that the sin I don’t recognize isn’t going to make me unworthy? ”

For the answer to that, consider the context. Paul told them that their divisions and factions were being judged and disciplined by God. It seems to me then, that the unworthiness he is talking about is specifically what Paul pointed to; the sin of not getting along with other Christians. If that happens, we are not united around the Table and have no business honoring Christ when we are not honoring each other; the Body of Christ.

Paul is practical; he offered some truth that can help with the factions. He reminded his readers that Christians are not all the same . . . “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good . . .  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:4–7; 11)

God gifts us in different ways, yet there is unity in this diversity because of the Holy Spirit. Learning to rely on Him means experiencing that unity. Relying on myself means seeing only the diversity and often fighting about our differences. This grieves the heart of God.

The OT saints had no instruction about spiritual gifts and about how to find unity. Nevertheless, they were to love one another too. If not, they had to sacrifice more animals to make sure their sins were covered. If that seems harsh, it is no more demanding than the NT call to love and unity. The psalmist agrees and places another marker for what pleases God. His priority is not on offerings for sin, but on a changed life that avoids sin with honesty and integrity . . .

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalm 24:3–5)

All these words encourage me to persevere. Only Jesus can produce clean hands and a pure heart. Only Jesus can produce unity. Today, I’m being tested (nothing new), but the God of my salvation will bless me and enable me to rely on Him. 

A pure and holy offering

In some pagan cultures in Bible times, a person could not approach the king unless summoned. Otherwise they could lose their lives. Standing before royalty was a privilege not to be taken lightly. Perhaps this was in the back of Paul’s mind when he wrote this to the church at Rome . . .

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)

The word “present” as used in the New Testament carries the idea of a person standing before others, such as in a throne room, where they are presenting themselves. In this verse, “offering” could work, but it is less like “Here I am to serve you” and more like “all of me is at your disposal, even if you slay me.”

Romans 6 uses the same word in verses about how we are to present ourselves to God . . .

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (Romans 6:13)

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. (Romans 6:19)

The idea is absolute surrender, not merely that I offer myself to God, but that I have become a slave that does only as the Father tells me to do, making no decisions for myself. All of me belongs to God.

Yet this is not about “just as I am” either. Romans 12:1 says, “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable” so God is not calling for an inclusive offer that has a “take me as I am” attitude. He wants me to offer Him only that which is “alive” leaving out the “dead in sin” old self. This is about the “alive to righteousness” person that is a new creation, regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit in new birth that happened when I believed. He wants me to present holiness and righteousness to Him, not a mixed bag of sometimes obedient and sometimes not.

I stand before God, the King of the universe. He asks for a worthy sacrifice has no spot or blemish. Even the lambs that were slain (prior to the once-for-all sacrifice of The Lamb, Jesus Christ) were unblemished. God is not interested in eyes that look at evil, hands that are greedy, feet that go to dark places, self-indulgent appetites, a heart full of rage, or a tongue that says things that should not be said.

Today’s devotional speaks of the importance of “spying out the spots on our bodies” because those who offered the sacrifices in the past were not permitted to offer “the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores” (Leviticus 22:22). How much more must I present myself pure in every respect to worship Him in service?

I also think of Elijah’s offer and how flame came down from above and consumed the whole thing — water, wood, and stones — and realize this is what happens to offerings made to God. This is no small challenge. From Scripture and from experience, I know if I have anything in me that is “relaxed and secular” yet offer myself to God with good intentions, the fire of the Spirit will consume my worldliness. He makes certain that my offer is holy and acceptable so that God might receive what He asked for.

Spiritual worship is living my life according to Christ who lives in me. It is a surrendered life, offered to God as a sacrifice. While God accepts me as I am, the Spirit is at work that I do not stay that way. He is a consuming fire. When I bring to Him myself as that sacrifice, He takes only that which is from Himself and burns up all that is not. 

To Live is Christ — taking care of business

A few years ago a woman started coming to our Bible study. She was a new Christian but an angry one. She took every opportunity to speak against the people that had wronged her. If not that, she broke each moment of silence to talk about herself.

Nevertheless, she sincerely wanted to grow and be a better person. One day when alone with her, the Holy Spirit put on my heart to suggest that she would not grow as long as her focus was on herself. A long silence. Then she said, “You are right.” She took that suggestion seriously. Her life began to change in remarkable way. She is now a joyful, happy person.

I need to remember my own advice. The last part of today’s devotional reading asks, “How much do you grow in the Lord when you have vindictive or spiteful thoughts?” This comes from the middle of this passage . . . 

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8–9)

My answer to that question? Not very much. Growth is not about filling my head with Bible knowledge. Some say that knowledge must go from my head to my heart. I say it has to go from knowing it to obeying it.

I can make excuses for getting upset with people. I’ve had some nasty things done to me. Anyone else would be angry and want to get even, or at least think unkind thoughts. Yet the Bible is clear. Vengeance and retaliation are God’s business. My business is to bless people.

Sometimes blessing others means telling them the truth in love, which motivated my suggestion to that new Christian. Sometimes blessing is keeping my mouth shut. Regardless of how it is expressed or shown to others, a blessing comes from a sympathetic and loving heart. It is tenderness coupled with humility. Whatever I say to others comes from “been there, done that” humility, besides a deep desire that they prosper, move forward and know Christ better.

Some people narrow the meaning of blessing. For them, it is feel-good situations and/or money. They like the Bible verses that promise a blessing to generous people, interpreting these to mean that God wants them rich. While money is not evil in itself, the love of it is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). So also is love of self, ease, power and control. Evil has many motivations and definitions.

Likewise, blessing has many descriptions, all opposite to the words that describe evil or sin. Stuff like retaliation, spite, pride, a contrary or harsh spirit, lack of affection, hardness of heart, name-calling, and selfishness cannot produce words or actions of blessing.

Not only that, things like this are a barricade. They stop the love of God from flowing to me and through me, and keep me from becoming more like Jesus. God wants every part of me clean and prepared to take care of the business He has given me. I cannot grow if I hang on to even a hint of stinky thinking.