What It Looks Like to Have a Pure Heart

There are measures we can take in our daily lives to separate ourselves from the world’s perspective. We are no better than they are, for everyone is created by God, and loved by Him. However, when we become aware of our sinfulness and undergo salvation and saving by Christ Jesus, we choose different paths and actions in life by the strength the Holy Spirit provides us. Everyone is born with a desire to be closer to God, and when we begin to take our first steps following Christ, the desire grows. We give in to our natural craving for more of God! And it changes us, purely, from the inside, out. “Paul makes it clear that one cannot claim God’s gracious promises without a life of holiness,” The Fire Bible explains, “which involves moral purity, spiritual integrity, separation from evil and dedication to God.”

As I look at my teenage daughters and their friends, I see the pressure they put on themselves to do all of the right things. I pray their hearts are purely motivated, and guided by the Lord, Christ Jesus. If we simply aim to do “better” and be “pure” by the world’s standards, to impress or please people, then anxiety and discontent will overtake our efforts. But when we are motivated purely from within, by a desire to know the Lord and follow Him, peace which surpasses all understanding will invade our lives, and the joy we have in Jesus will be apparent to everyone around them. “These OT promises are the basis for Paul’s exhortation concerning cleansing from the external and internal (flesh and spirit) defilement of idol worship,” Moody Bible Commentary explains. “This act of perfecting holiness reflects a deep reverence for God.”

Pure hearts are made up of much more than compliant actions. Pure hearts love God, and love others.

Sources 

Fire Bible New Living Translation. Life Publishers. Copyright 2021.

Moody Bible Commentary. Moody Publishers, Chicago. Copyright 2014. 

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Meg is a graduate of Ashland University. She is a writer, author, editor, and digital content creator. She stepped away from her job in Internet Marketing in 2008 to raise her daughters, which gave her passion for writing a chance to shine through her blog, Sunny&80… Life within the Love of Christ. Meg has served as a Children’s Worship Team Leader and Middle School Leader for her local church. She founded and led the Breakfast Club Bible Study for Tweens, has served as a Young Life Leader and Committee Member, and led Women’s Bible Study. She has also volunteered as a content creator for her local church, studied Bible/Ministerial Training through Global University, and completed COMPEL PRO Writers Training. A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016, Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the team at Salem Web Network. You can find her entire library of books on her Amazon Author Page.