APRIL 22, Matthew 5:8

Did you know that in the bible, the heart mainly refers to a man’s thinking process (Proverbs 23:7)? When Jesus Christ spoke of the “pure in heart”, he was thinking of the mind, which in turn controls the will, which in turn controls the responses of emotion. What God is after, is therefore, a new heart.

A new heart? Is God going to give me a heart transplant when I become a Christian? Perhaps not literally but the human heart is utterly corrupt, wicked and deceitful ( Jeremiah 17:9) and it cannot be changed, reformed, or improved to become like God‘s heart. That is, unless and until God’s transforming spirit changes our lives when we become children of God.

It is easy to change the way we appear on the outside without a real change of heart. You may go to church, carry a bible, recite bible verses but if your heart is not pure and clean, you have not met God’s standard. It is therefore not enough to clean up your act only on the outside. Only God knows your true motives. Jesus Christ’s goal is to truly change the hearts of sinners like you and me.

True Christianity is therefore about transforming a person‘s heart and purifying his life. Only Jesus Christ can purify the heart and cause you to do the right things for the right reasons. God’s cleansing and purifying of your life is a complete transformation of your desires and inner motivation. It is giving up a life fixed upon self-centered desires to embrace a life dedicated to Christ and doing God’s will. This person, Jesus Christ promises, will see God!