July 30 Daily Devotional

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

the Rev. Henry Huenemann

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).

Bible Reading

Psalm 15:

¹Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
²He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
³He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
⁴In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
⁵He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Devotional

By nature we are not pure in heart. "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." But "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The psalmist prays, "Create in me a clean heart, 0 God." The pure in heart shall see God. "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart." He that hath a pure heart shall stand in his holy place. The writer to the Hebrews says, "Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

In this life we see God as He has revealed himself in his Son. We see him in his Word. "This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life." "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." He and the Father are one. "Now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that has this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

Prayer

Our Father, we thank Thee for the gift of Thy Son, that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood; that gave himself for his Church, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word; that He might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and without blemish. We thank Thee that we, as members of that Church, may have fellowship with him here below, and that we shall behold his glory, when we shall see him face to face. Help us to be wholly his now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture in Devotional: Matt. 15:19; 1 John 1:9; Ps. 51:10; 24:3, 4; Heb. 12:14; John 6:40; 1 Cor. 13:12; John 14:9; 10:30; 1 Cor. 13:12; 1 John 3:2, 3; Matt. 5:8.

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