6-22-07 Matthew 5:8

Matthew 5:8 (BBE)
Happy are the clean in heart: for they will see God.

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

Learning to be happy and knowing that you are blessed even when the Lord is pruning you is quite an accomplishment. He cleans up and purifies your life by cutting off the dead and useless things and sometimes by cutting off parts that are still green and alive. The latter are usually harder to understand and accept. Everything in your heart--your thoughts, desires, emotions, affections, purposes, understanding, intelligence, and will--cries out against it. God's purpose in this is that you will bear more fruit.

Even though you feel like you are going through fire, you are being cleansed of all corrupt desires, anything false, and all sin and guilt. You are becoming blameless and innocent in all things. You are finding freedom from the defilements of the flesh, the world, and every kind of contamination.

All this is necessary for the child of God, for Adonai is a Holy God. His very essence is purity and cleanness. Your sinful nature cannot stand in His presence and live. So the Lord continually makes you pure and holy. All of this, which He does because He loves you, will allow you to see Him face to face. As your heart becomes purer, you are able to perceive, know and become acquainted with more facets of your Lord. Your experience in Him will continually deepen and you will direct more of your attention to Him.

There is no greater blessing than knowing Him!