“Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.”

What is purity of heart? The idea of purity is seen throughout the Bible. Scriptures seem to talk about different ways to be pure before God. The book definition of purity is: “freedom from adulteration or contamination.” The key word being “freedom.” Notice the definition did not say absence of, or rejection of, or protection from, it said freedom. Why is freedom such an important part of purity? Because freedom deals directly with the heart. When we are free to choose something, odds are, what we will choose will come straight from the inclination of our hearts. In others word, what we love is what we will choose.

Purity is love.

To be pure in heart is to be like King David. It was said that David had a heart after God’s own heart, as Acts 13:22 says, “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.” What made David’s heart pure? It was not the absence of sin. It was not protection from evil things. David loved the Lord with His whole being. David’s love for God was not out of religious obligation to the law, but from the freedom of choosing to be in God’s presence. This love made his heart pure. To have a heart after God is to be so filled with love for God that you choose to shape your whole life around your pursuit of Him. It is promised that those whose heart is inclined towards God will see Him!

David’s love for God modeled God’s love for us. Scriptures say that God is love. God’s heart towards us is always love. Everything God has in mind for you starts from a place of love. This even means everything God allows to happen to you also comes from a place of love, though be it excruciatingly tough love at times. Do you accept God’s love? You see, there is a secret that David knew, and I often wonder if we have forgotten it. We cannot love God until we have first accepted his unfathomable, unconditional, extravagant love for us.  

How does accepting God’s love give us a pure heart? God’s love is pure. It keeps no record of wrongs. When we can accept this unmerited love, our hearts become open not just to receive blessing, but to pour out blessing. This is a heart filled with love. It is a surrendered heart. As we surrender to God, His love makes us pure. You see, it is not our purity, which gives us a pure heart, but it is Christ Jesus’ purity living and working inside of us that gives us a pure heart.

How does His love purify our hearts?

His love pushes us to confession, repentance, and submission. Confession is when we acknowledge our need for Christ, or when we acknowledge our wrongdoing towards another. Repentance is a lifestyle of choosing to live in alignment with Jesus. Submission is the daily, or even sometimes momentary, act of surrender to God’s control by completely letting go.

His love leaves no room for resentment and unforgiveness. His love will show us where we are holding a record of wrongs against other people, ourselves, or even God, and pushes us to forgiveness.

His love transforms our desires into desiring God. His love will woo us, gently move us, and guide us closer and closer towards His own heart.

Blessed – filled with joy – are those whose hearts are pure – filled with love for God – for they will get to see God.