Let me urge you today to become, as Jesus said, “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8). Think about what it would mean, what changes you would have to make, what habits you’d have to break.
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The Pure in Heart
When Jesus spoke of being “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8), He emphasized the inner person . . . the motive . . . the “heart.” The phrase does not refer simply to doing the right things but doing the right things for the right reason.
Read MoreMinistry to the Miserable
You don’t run through an art gallery; you walk very slowly. You often stop, study the treasured works of art, and take time to appreciate what has been painted. You examine the texture, the technique, . . .
Read MoreRewards for Being Different
For the past few days, we have observed the promises Jesus made in “The Beatitudes.” We are only halfway through the list, but it’s a good place to stop and summarize what we have seen in this inspired portrait thus far.
Read MoreA Promise for ”Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness”
The true servant of God possesses an insatiable appetite for what is right, a passionate drive for justice. Spiritually speaking, the servant is engaged in a pursuit of God . . . a hot, restless, eager longing to walk with Him.
Read MoreA Promise for ”The Gentle”
What comes to mind as you read Jesus’s words, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5)? Truth be told, we may get a false first impression. We may think, Blessed are the weak for they shall become doormats.
Read MoreA Promise for ”Those Who Mourn”
I remember an incident many years ago when a man in our church fell while taking a shower. As he slipped on the slick floor, he fell against a sheet of glass with all his weight.
Read MoreA Promise for ”The Poor in Spirit”
At first glance, Jesus’s reference to “the poor in spirit” seems to refer to those who have little or no money—people of poverty with zero financial security. Wrong. You’ll note He speaks of being “poor in spirit.”
Read MoreThe Beatitudes: Three Observations
The introduction to Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount is no doubt the most familiar section of His message (Matthew 5:1–12). Commonly called “The Beatitudes,” this section is the most descriptive word-portrait of a servant ever recorded.
Read MoreJesus’ Command: ”Be Different!”
When Jesus walked the earth, He attracted a number of people to Himself. On one occasion, He sat down among them and taught them some bottom-line truths about how He wanted them to grow up.
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