In review of Matthew 5:8 I'm told that “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (NIV).
This beatitude is one of the ways to be blessed by God. Being blessed means more than happiness. It implies the fortunate and eventual state of those who are in God's Kingdom. It means that I can experience hope and joy, independent of any outward circumstances.
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that I’m blessed when my heart is pure (Matthew 5:8). Today, we use the word integrity for “being pure in heart”. God will bless me when I live my life with integrity.
Having integrity doesn’t mean I need to be sinless or that I don’t make mistakes.“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 KJV).
His Word shows me through example that Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Paul all had integrity. Yet none of them were perfect. God called David a man after his own heart, yet David committed adultery and arranged the murder of the woman’s husband, and subsquently faced the consequences for his sin.
I can learn and be assured from these biblical heroes that I don’t need to be perfect to be a person of integrity. I just need a heart that is wholly committed to God.
I’m learning that God is more interested in seeing my heart committed to him than he is in the sins I’ve committed. He looks at why I do what I do, regardless of what I do. 1 Samuel 16:7, reminds me that, “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (NIV).
While I’ll never be perfect in this life or be sinless, I can sin less. I can commit to living with integrity and to maintain a heart that is pure and devoted to God.
Today I need to examine if my attitudes are a carbon copy of the world's selfishness, pride, and lust for power, or are they ones that reflect the humility and self-sacrifice of Jesus, my King? If someone could look into my heart, what would they see? Is it aligning with what God would want them to see?
In a meeting I had yesterday, I was reminded of the character of integrity that is needed in the business place. It’s easy to take shortcuts or do things to appease others just to get out of a situation or avoid doing what may be more difficult to do. A long time ago I decided and adopted as my mission “to live with integrity and to make a difference in the lives of others.” Today I renew that commitment.
This morning Father I pray with the help of your Spirit to live a life of integrity. I pray for wisdom and guidance in my thoughts, decisions, leadership and my interaction with others. I pray this through your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.
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