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 his emotions. What God desires is therefore a new heart.

A new heart? Is God going to give me a heart transplant when I become a Christian? Not literally. 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, 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, and 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. When God cleanses and purifies your life, it is a complete transformation of your desires and inner motivation. It is giving up a life fixed upon self-centred desires to embrace a life dedicated to living the Christ-centred life and doing God’s will. This person, Jesus Christ promises, will see God!

Thought: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive me of my sins. Please transform and give me a clean and pure heart, so that I can do the right things for the right reasons. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.