Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Blessed are the pure in heart.
God wants to talk to you today about your heart.
When I was a young adult I bought a 1976 Ford pickup. It was ok looking on the outside and when you started it up the engine sounded like it was ok. However, what you couldn't see was the problem in the engine. For the next 6 months are so I would learn that the engine had been rebuilt however, they must have not done a very good job.
I started spend on average about $385 a month just to keep the truck running and going. What I could see on the outside looked good, but the inside had hidden issues.
Is this not what we do to ourselves? We put on a clean looking good front. From the outside people sees us as having it all together, that we have no faults. However on the inside we are hiding things like money problems, prescription drug problem, lust, porn, and many other things that we don't want people to see.
When my Dad owned a car lot they would take the cars they just got in and go give the outside a good wash job. Then they would detail the inside and the engine. That car would look good and appealing to the eye. However, what the engine or transmission was holding you didn't know until after you bought that shiny new car.
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
NKJV & KJV Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
What does this mean? determines the course of your life or out of it spring the issues of life. Really this is two different meanings, that's why it is a good idea to always go back to the main source that we have which is the KJV. Yet, they indirectly go in the same direction.
It determines the course of your life. Another words it gives us the direction that we are headed. What we have in our heart will determine how our life is lived.
Now NKJV & KJV, out of it spring the issues of life. What flows out of us is what is in the heart. It doesn't just give us direction, but it shows everyone what is inside.
Matthew 23:23-29
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,
You see Jesus is always having problems with the Pharisees. They seem to be the "Trouble Makers" of that day.
Jesus says in verse 25 "For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self indulgence."
Then Jesus says in verse 26 " Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also." A Doctor will tell you that it does not matter how you look on the outside, you can be fit, you can look healthy, but if you have high cholesterol on the inside then your heart will fail you at any time. Another words you can look like a born again Christian on the outside, however what is on the inside is what matters.
If I change the oil in my car and do not change the filter then the car will eventually not run. If the filter is left dirty then it will effect and contaminant the new oil and the gunk will stop the engine from working properly.
If my heart is dirty then everything else becomes dirty which will show the world I am unclean. Clean your heart first and the outside will become clean.
Back up in Matthew 5:8 it said "Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God." They shall see God, there are two ways to look at this if you are pure in heart then you can see God in spirit. When you get to heaven on judgment day you will see God face to face and your heart better be right.
Psalm 119:112
I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end.
If I have inclined then that means to sit up. If you are in your recliner and are reclined then you have to incline to get out of the chair. So, in my heart I will incline my heart meaning I will raise up to God's Statutes.
Another way to put it is I am raising my heart to reach heaven.
Where is your heart today?