The Pure in Heart Titus 2:11-15

The Pure in Heart  Titus 2:11-15

2:7 & 8 “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”

What kind of people is God looking for? What kind of people are “God’s People”? In Matthew 5, as Jesus talks to the people on the hillside, we read in verse 8; “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

My scripture in Titus 2 started me off on the wrong track. That passage is more for blessed are the pure of life, not pure in heart. I had started off thinking about living a “Holy” life, but this is not what Jesus said. Jesus said “pure in heart”. This gets more to the intentions of our hearts not our ability to keep rules.

In Genesis 6:5&6 God says of people, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.”

What God is grieved by is the impureness of the unredeemed heart. More than the actual sin is the intent of humanity to hate God and rebel against Him.

Rev 2:23 searches the heart “And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.”

1 Cor 4:5 the purposes of the heart “Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

Deuteronomy 6:4&5 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

For all their claims to be God’s people and all their elaborate rule keeping, Israel failed when it came to purity in heart. Much of what they did was done out of pride. Much of what they did was in an effort to not make God angry. While all along God was looking for people to love Him back.

Why do we attend church?

Why do we read and study God’s Word?

Why do we pray?

Why do we struggle to live a life of faith and obedience?

Could it be pride? Could it be to get things from God? Could it be we just are trying not to tick God off?

God is looking for people who will love Him, desire Him and His presence in their life? To walk with us like He did with Adam and Eve in the garden.

Are you that person? Am I? Are we as a church? What is our motive, what is our purpose?

Today let each one of us take up the challenge to be pure in heart, that we will see God.