“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NLT).
I heard a commentary on this verse that gave me a new perspective. The speaker offered that those with pure hearts are those who earnestly seek after God, read His Word, and put it into practice. She believed that people with this type of heart condition would see God moving in the world.
When considering this verse in the past, I had always thought that the “pure in heart” were people born with beautiful pure hearts of love to serve others. I thought it was part of their DNA, a facet of their personality. Furthermore, I thought of “seeing God” as something that happened at the end of life here on earth. I thought the “pure in heart” would “see God” when they died and went to their eternal home with the Father. Although this interpretation is valid, there is more to consider here.
I believe the speaker is quite right in her interpretation of this verse. When we lean our lives into God, reading His Word and putting it into practice, God allows us to see things in a way we wouldn’t have if we hadn’t put our faith in Him. He opens our minds to see His Hand over our lives and circumstances.
A recent example in my life involved a neighbour who gifted us with some furniture they were no longer using. These kitchen chairs were in excellent condition and were a perfect match for a new table my daughter had recently purchased without chairs! I hadn’t spoken to this neighbour in years. But God used my service to the neighbour who lived between our houses to orchestrate our meeting to bring about this circumstance. Another example was my dentist appointment last week. Through a series of unusual events, I ended up with a dental hygienist, not my usual one, who had a son with a learning disability and had recently lost her mother. Since I had experienced both things previously in my life, I was able to comfort and encourage her.
I immediately and clearly saw God’s Hand moving in both situations.
However, I would have had a completely different interpretation and missed seeing God’s “work” had my eyes of faith not been open to seeing it this way. I have heard other believers’ testimonies about how they have witnessed God working in their lives, and I love hearing these reflections on how God is moving in our lives every day.
Thank you, Father, that You are ready and waiting to open our hearts and minds to see You, to see things through Your lens. Thank you that You allow us to glimpse Your movement in our lives. Help us to see You more clearly every day! Amen.
