“Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
As I reflect on the Word, ‘Pure heart,’ I pray for the wisdom of God and seek to understand the perspective of others. I recognize that we are all wounded in some form. Additionally, being aware of the wounded other makes it easier to be merciful and forgiving. We are compassionate, and we can move on without holding them with bitterness. A Pure Heart is like the heart of a child. It is without prejudice and is filled with the love of God. God is LOVE. Yet, when we look outside of ourselves, we fail to see the world as God sees it, Redeemed.
Instead of allowing thoughts of bitterness or resentment to enter my mind, I soak in the presence of God. Letting the rays of the sun shine on my face as I look up. I feel the love and compassion of Jesus shine on my face. The Holy Spirit burns away the impurities in my heart: a spiritual cleansing.
A person with a pure heart is someone who wishes no harm on another, like the heart of a child. The feeling of betrayal and reliving the same patterns of my mother’s mother brings nothing but pain and suffering. They carried the torch of unforgiveness and bitterness. All this accumulated in them was pain and suffering.
Recently, I found myself unaware and almost fell into the same pattern in relationships. The Israelites’ example is walking around the same mountain for forty years. It’s difficult not to wish vengeance upon a person who deliberately causes pain and suffering to another. The pain of betrayal is intense: Jesus’ disciple Judas betrayed Him and handed Him over to be crucified. Also, it is difficult to accept that someone you love will want you to fail in your endeavors. This is perceived in various ways by the other person.
Paul instructs us to bless those who are cruel to us and to be in harmony with one another. I admit, this isn’t easy. Gossip is an ugly beast that betrays. I admit it takes the power of God to help us achieve what He desires: forgiveness. Gossip can never return what it has stolen. Nor can the time taken from families be given back because of gossip and slander. Gossip is a spiritual thief; it lacks a pure heart. It’s a destroyer of families.
Sometimes, I can see the betrayer behind the mask. It’s not easy to discern whether they are mirroring the part of me that’s still angry from the betrayal. David asks God to search his heart for unresolved issues. Yet, the more we read Romans 12, the more we gain understanding. I know I have work to do when I am triggered. Instead of reacting, I can now see the trigger as a pointer to the infection. And through the Word given today in Romans, I can soothe the pain with the ointment of God’s unfailing love. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, yet when he was reunited with them, he said, ‘What you meant for evil, God meant for my good and the good of others.’ God took away the pain of Joseph’s past.
Dear LORD, as David prayed in Psalm 51, please forgive me of all my sins. Even the sins I carried from my youth. During that time, my heart was soiled with envy, strife, and malice. It was tainted with immorality, unforgiveness, and everything evil within the depths of my being. LORD, help me to love as You love me, and forgive as You have forgiven me. Please guide me in the Way of Righteousness. And lead me away from the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Keep my enemies at bay, away from my heart, mind, and body. I also pray this for my loved ones near and far, in Jesus’ Name, amen.