Category: Bible Study

Jesus said that the pure in heart will see God (Mat. 5:8). What exactly does He mean that we will “see God”? Yesterday, we examined Exodus 33. At the end of that chapter, Moses asks to see God’s glory. God permits Moses to see His “back” (Exo. 33:23), but says to Moses, “My face shall not be seen.” Earlier, God had told Moses, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live” (Exo. 33:20). So Moses was permitted to see some manifestation of God, but he didn’t see God’s face.

John, among others in the Bible, reminds us that “No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12). So how will we “see God” when we purify our hearts? Here are three things the Bible tells us about those whose hearts are pure.

1. God promises that the pure in heart will see Him.

1 John 3:2 says that, while we do not currently know what we’ll be like in eternity, we know that, when Jesus appears, we shall be like Him and we shall see Him as He is. Hebrews 12:14 reminds us that those who pursue peace and holiness will see the Lord.

2. Purity of heart singularizes our focus.

James wrote,

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:8).

It’s interesting that he likens unrighteousness – those with impure hands – to double-mindedness. That’s why Jesus said that we can’t serve two masters (Mat. 6:24). Our allegiance can’t be divided. We have to choose: God or whatever else.

3. Purity of heart helps me to see God’s hand in my life.

Because of his righteousness, Joseph was blessed by God. Remember toward the end of Genesis, when Joseph has revealed himself to his brothers? He says, “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Gen. 50:20). Joseph was able to see God’s hand working in his life. One who does not have a pure heart that is seeking God will not see this.

In Romans chapter eight, Paul says that his hope in God helped him to maintain a proper perspective on life’s difficulties. He says that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (verse 18), and “all things work together for good to those who love God” (verse 28).

Let’s wrap it up: When your heart is pure, you’ll look at life – and death – differently. Everything is about God. I labor now so I can see Him then, and, as I labor, I see His hand with me all the way. The pure in heart will truly see God.

[divider]

 This is a partial transcript from my weekday podcast, The New You, where we focus on maintaining and accentuating the new that Christ created in each of us as Christians. A new episode is available each Monday through Friday on The Light Network. Click here to see all of the episodes.

Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people (Exo. 33:3).

Moses has spent the last forty years doing something that he didn’t want to do. In Exodus chapters three and four, God selects Moses as the leader of the Israelites. He would bring them out of Egyptian bondage and lead them to the promised land. Moses resisted at first, offering one excuse after another. Ultimately, he went.

Forty years later, Moses is still leading these people. Moses has been up on Mount Sinai, per God’s request, receiving the Ten Commandments. While he’s up on the mountain, the Israelites, down below, begin to wonder whether Moses will ever return. They melt their jewelry and fashion a golden calf that they worship. When Moses returns and sees what they’ve done, he’s infuriated. How could they have abandoned God so quickly?! What happens next is absolutely chilling.

God tells Moses that He will keep His promise to give the promised land to the Israelites. He will drive out the enemies – all exactly as He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, God said that He would not go with them. He would send His angel, but He wouldn’t go Himself.

This news greatly troubled Moses. Longing to be close to God, Moses moves his tent outside the camp. If the people were stubborn to God’s ways, then Moses would distance himself from them. Moses wants God, not just God’s blessings. So Moses moves to God. The Bible says that “the LORD spoke to Mose face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exo. 33:11). This is figurative language that communicates to us that Moses had an intimate relationship with God.

Then, Moses said something incredible. He said to God, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here” (Exo. 33:15). Moses says that he would rather stay in the wilderness homeless with God than to go into the promised land without God. Amazing!

Let’s wrap it up: Yesterday, we noted that the pure in heart will see God. How badly do you want to see God? What are you willing to give up or to do in order to be sure that you will one day see Him?

Sometimes I look at the Israelites and I wonder how they could be so foolish to worship an idol that they had crafted right before their eyes. Yet, sometimes I allow things to become improperly prioritized ahead of God’s kingdom and His righteousness. God doesn’t live among wickedness. Am I willing to move to Him? Am I willing to be different, to stand out, for the sake of being pure in heart and in life?

[divider]

 This is a partial transcript from my weekday podcast, The New You, where we focus on maintaining and accentuating the new that Christ created in each of us as Christians. A new episode is available each Monday through Friday on The Light Network. Click here to see all of the episodes.

In the late 1800’s, Davison and Fillmore penned the words to an old song that we sometimes sing in worship:

Purer in heart, O God, Help me to be;
May I devote my life Wholly to Thee;
Watch Thou my wayward feet,
Guide me with counsel sweet;
Purer in heart, Help me to be.

During His teaching, Jesus placed great significance upon the heart. In the Beatitudes, the fundamental tenants of discipleship, He said that the pure in heart will see God (Mat. 5:8). That is HUGE!

Perhaps the best way to define what it means to be pure in heart is to offer what it does not mean. Purity is the absence of filth. The Bible says that sin stains our souls like scarlet (Isa. 1:18). When sin is in my heart – when I think sinful thoughts – then my heart is impure.

The problem is, I know my heart. I know that my heart isn’t always as pure as it should be. Certainly there’s room for improvement in my life. Can you relate? If only those with pure hearts will see God, then I have to figure out how I can transform my heart.

You can transform your heart when you remember two important Biblical truths.

1. You must be willing to pay the price.

Paul said that we are to be a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2) that is not conformed to this world, but transformed. He shared with us how we can transform our hearts in that very text. First, he says that God’s mercy plays a part in our heart transformation. Then, he states that, as a living sacrifice, we are to be holy and acceptable to God (this is what we have been called to do). Finally, he says there that we will be transformed when our minds are renewed. That word “renew” means to renovate. When I think about a renovation, I think about gutting what used to be there to make way for all of the new things that are going to replace the old things. That’s what we are to do with our hearts.

2. You must realize that no one can change their hearts by themselves.

Look carefully at Psalm 51. In verses seven and ten, David, as he longs for forgiveness and cleansing, states that he can’t do it on his own. It’s going to require God’s help. He says, “Purge me … and I shall be clean … Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” He’s saying, “I can’t do it alone. I need God’s help.”

David is absolutely right. I can’t do it on my own. No matter how hard I may try, I can’t cleanse myself of my sins. That’s why Paul says that we are saved by God’s grace (Eph. 2).

Let’s wrap it up: Do you want to see God? Then you have to work towards purifying your heart. Surrender yourself as a sacrifice to God – both in body and in mind – and let God cleanse you and change you as you apply His Word to your life.

[divider]

 This is a partial transcript from my weekday podcast, The New You, where we focus on maintaining and accentuating the new that Christ created in each of us as Christians. A new episode is available each Monday through Friday on The Light Network. Click here to see all of the episodes.

Some things never say “that’s enough.” They just keep taking and taking; they are never satisfied. The Bible gives us an example of one such creature – the leech – and then offers four more examples of things that never say, “Enough.”

The leech has two daughters—
Give and Give!
There are three things that are never satisfied,
Four never say, “Enough!”:
The grave,
The barren womb,
The earth that is not satisfied with water—
And the fire never says, “Enough!” (Prov. 30:15-16).

A leech only takes. And it takes, and it takes. It is never satisfied! The Bible says that its daughters are “Give and Give.” In other words, they only want more. Further, the grave, the barren womb, the earth and its relationship to water, and fire are four more examples of things that are never satisfied. You know, a fire will continue to take wood as long as you continue to feed it wood. It’s never satisfied!

If we aren’t careful, we can become people who are never satisfied. Sin will make us that way. Is there anything wrong with things? Not until those things begin to rule our lives. The same goes for money (1 Tim. 6 will tell you all about that).

That’s why learning contentment is so important.

Yesterday, we noted Philippians 4 where Paul states that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstance life threw at him. He realized each day’s blessings. He recognized that God gives us every good gift. He had a relationship with Christ, and continually reminded himself of his focus. He repressed self-centeredness, substituting it with godliness. That’s contentment, and that’s what it takes to learn contentment.

As we go through life, we have to be on constant watch for the leeches. We can become addicted to something – yes, it could be drugs or alcohol, but it could also be something like TV or the Internet – and, almost before we realize it, we’re hooked to a leech. We become covetous or jealous or lazy or rebellious, and all of these things can become leeches to our souls; they’re never satisfied, always taking.

Let’s wrap it up: No one has to go on living an insatiable life. Real satisfaction is available! Jesus says that the truth can set you free from the leeches of life (John 8:32). You can truly be satisfied in Him.

So, today, I want us to conclude these thoughts together by considering Hebrews 13:5-6:

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:
“The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”

[divider]

 This is a partial transcript from my weekday podcast, The New You, where we focus on maintaining and accentuating the new that Christ created in each of us as Christians. A new episode is available each Monday through Friday on The Light Network. Click here to see all of the episodes.

Webster defines contentment as “the state of being happy and satisfied.” But is that even possible in today’s world? It’s not only possible, it’s a spiritual necessity.

In Philippians 4, Paul says that he is content. As you and I well know, Paul didn’t live a life of ease and luxury. In 2 Corinthians 11, he describes times when he was beaten, in perils, sleepless, hungry and thirsty, and even naked! How could this man actually say that he was content?!

Paul teaches us that contentment is learned behavior. He says, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11). So contentment is a choice that we make. And we can choose contentment regardless of life’s circumstances.

How can we learn contentment?

Contentment comes from at least five vital mindsets.

1. Contentment comes from a REALIZATION of each day’s blessings.

Remember how Jesus taught us to thank God for our “daily bread” (Mat. 6:11)? We have something for which to be thankful every day.

2. Contentment comes from a RECOGNITION of the Giver of all good gifts.

James 1:17 states that everything comes from God. Paul asked, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7).

3. Contentment comes from a RELATIONSHIP with Christ.

In Philippians 4, Paul points to the One Who made his contentment possible. He says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). His ability to endure hardships came from his trust in Jesus.

4. Contentment comes from a REMINDER of our focus.

If your treasures are here, then your reward is here and, thus, your heart is set here. But if you treasures are in heaven, then your heart’s focus is there and, consequently, that’s where your reward is (Mat. 6:19-21). We need that regular reminder of where our focus should be. Paul said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

5. Contentment comes from a REPRESSION of self-centeredness.

You’ll never be content if your self absorbed. That’s why Paul wrote to Timothy that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6), and “having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Tim. 6:8). He’s talking about a frame of mind that views one’s lot as enough. God has supplied everything that I need, therefore I can be content.

Let’s wrap it up: Contentment does not mean that we can’t strive for better. There’s contentment and then there’s complacency. We shouldn’t confuse the two. It is contentment that can look at life – even though things aren’t going the way that you wish they would – and still see the good that God gives in it. A contented person is the one who can truly say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”

[divider]

 This is a partial transcript from my weekday podcast, The New You, where we focus on maintaining and accentuating the new that Christ created in each of us as Christians. A new episode is available each Monday through Friday on The Light Network. Click here to see all of the episodes.

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water (Psa. 63:1).

Our world affords many, many comforts. If you’re a citizen of the United States of America, then you are among the richest people in the world – regardless of how much money is in your bank account. And yet, even with all of the blessings that this life can give, we are nothing without God.

The Psalmist said that he lived in a dry and thirsty land. When we look at our world through the lens of Scripture, then we will recognize that we live in a dry and thirsty land, too. Sure, sin offers some pleasures, but they’re brief and passing (Heb. 11:25). They don’t really satisfy. That’s why Jesus said that we should hunger and thirst for righteousness (Mat. 5:6).

“Hunger and thirst” describes an intense desire that we have. So, we are to desire righteousness – and that’s something that only God can give.

Speaking of desires, in 1 John 2:15-17 John describes three desires that the tempter uses to draw us away from righteousness: the lust (or desire) of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These three desires are “not of the Father but … of the world.” They teach me a valuable lesson, though, as I strive to be like the person Jesus described in Matthew 5:6, one who hungers and thirsts after righteousness. Here’s the lesson: I may have to stop loving some things and start loving other things.

See, I live in a dry and thirsty land. There is no nourishment without God’s provided necessities. There is no hope without God’s hand of grace. Jesus knew that. That’s why He said in John 4:34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

When our appetites, or desires, recognize that there is no true life without God, then we are ready to receive the complete satisfaction that He promises. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” That word “filled” refers to complete satisfaction of spiritual hunger and thirst. The world can never satisfy. Only God can satisfy the human soul.

Let’s wrap it up: Ultimately, we do what we want to do, don’t we? If we want to know God’s will, we will. If we want to do God’s will, we will. It’s going to take effort and deliberate choices, but you can do it. You can hunger and thirst for righteousness, and, when you do, you will be filled.

I don’t think it’s true, but there’s a story about the great artist Michelangelo. He, of course, sculpted the statue of David that is on display in Florence, Italy. As the story goes, someone once asked Michelangelo, “How did you create such an amazing statue from a piece of ugly stone?” The artist replied, “I just chipped away the parts that weren’t David.”

If you want to change your desires, you’ll do the same. Get rid of, chip away, the parts that aren’t Christ-like, and hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness.

[divider]

 This is a partial transcript from my weekday podcast, The New You, where we focus on maintaining and accentuating the new that Christ created in each of us as Christians. A new episode is available each Monday through Friday on The Light Network. Click here to see all of the episodes.

Have you ever eaten or drank something that didn’t really satisfy your need? I have been really thirsty before and have reached for my old go-to beverage of choice, a Mello Yello. The only problem was, that soda didn’t really satisfy my thirst. In some cases, it made me even more thirsty!

Sin is like that, isn’t it? Its possibilities are enticing – pleasure, power, fortune, or fame – so you give in, only to find that it didn’t satisfy. It left you feeling worse than you did before.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Mat. 5:6). Psalm 119:172 reminds us that God’s commandments are righteousness. So Jesus is saying that we should crave God’s commands. Our appetite should center on doing right.

How can I reset my appetite to crave God’s righteousness? This may surprise you, but it begins by taking off your grave clothes.

Are you confused? Let me explain.

In John chapter eleven, Jesus is in Bethany where his friend, Lazarus, has died just a few days before He arrived. But an amazing miracle is about to take place here. You know what happens, don’t you? Jesus says, “Lazarus, come forth!”

And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44).

Lazarus was resurrected from the grave! Amazing! However, there was still some evidence that he had once been dead, wasn’t there? Jesus told the observers to “loose him” from his grave clothes.

Sometimes, we need to be reminded to get rid of our grave clothes. Romans 6:4 puts it this way:

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

When we’re immersed in water, we are united with Christ’s death and burial. His blood cleanses us and we are forgiven of our past sins. When we come up out of the water, we are united in His resurrection. We now have a responsibility to “walk in newness of life.” The difficulty lies in the fact that we were once dead. We’re not dead anymore. We’ve been made spiritually alive by God’s grace and our obedient faith (Eph. 2:1-5). However, the fact remains that we used to be spiritually dead. Sometimes, we forget to take off the grave clothes.

Let’s wrap it up: Do you want to change your desires so that they seek God’s Will? It’s going to begin by taking off the grave clothes. Get rid of everything in your life that brings out the old you, and accentuate everything in your life that promotes the new you. Only then will you find true satisfaction and fulfillment.

[divider]

 This is a partial transcript from my weekday podcast, The New You, where we focus on maintaining and accentuating the new that Christ created in each of us as Christians. A new episode is available each Monday through Friday on The Light Network. Click here to see all of the episodes.