How to Be Happy

A Study of the Beatitudes

11/01/21 – 11/08/21

The Pure in Heart

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/06/21

It’s tempting to equate “pure in heart” with being sinless, but that would be an impossible standard for us this side of heaven. Thankfully, that’s not what Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart.” The Bible treats the heart as the command center of your life—the totality of your being: soul, spirit, mind, and body. So when we are “pure in heart,” then our emotions, intellect, and will are fully given to God. This is a cleansing, a purification, that only Jesus can give us.

First, Jesus imparts to us His righteousness so that we are declared guiltless before God; this is our positional purity (see Romans 4:25; 1 John 1:7). And then, Jesus provides us with His Holy Spirit that we might seek daily purity out of reverence to God and thankfulness for His gift of salvation (see 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:14). With these two kinds of purity, we will be happy because we will see God.

We’ll see Him in His magnificent creation and in our circumstances because we know He is working all things for our good (see Psalm 19:1; Romans 8:28). We’ll see God in His Word, in the person of Jesus Christ, and one day face to face (see Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 13:12). What a gift to know personally the one, true God! Ask Him today to give you an undivided heart that you might have eyes to see Him more clearly day by day.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for purifying me through the blood of Christ and the inner working of Your Holy Spirit. I rejoice because I know You are transforming me from one point of glory to another as I walk in Your ways by Your strength. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).