Matthew 5:8

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

A devoted heart to God is rewarded with an intimacy that cannot be rivaled. Just as purity of heart in any relationship affects intimacy, so it is with those who walk with God. He never withholds intimacy, mind you; He is simply crowded out by other things. Purify your heart, and you will find greater intimacy with God.

Jesus brings us to the sixth Beatitude today. It relates to a person’s purity of heart. The idea here is twofold: moral purity and devotional purity. Those who are morally impure have given themselves to sinful habits and desires, and these wreck our intimacy with God. Secondly, devotional purity speaks of the priority one places on their relationship with God. When God is not the most important thing in your life, you will lack intimacy with Him. Jesus promises that those who guard the purity of their heart will see God.

Are you lacking intimacy with God today? If so, the first thing you should consider is the purity of your heart. Have the things you are consuming created an environment in your heart that is unworthy of the King? Have you allowed other things to push Him off the throne and crowd Him out? The purer your heart is, the more intimate you will be with God. So make room for Him today. Do not allow worldliness and immorality to crowd Him out. Repent. Return. And then do your first works (Rev. 2:5).

Father, we desire nothing more than to see You. Create in us a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.