“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8, ESV)
Sometimes, the answer to a spiritual, moral, or situational dilemma in your life is staring you right in the face; but you can’t see it.
The day bloomed brightly. It was a glorious spring day. The trees were beginning to bud. The birds seemed to sing more beautifully. Why did Joshua feel something was wrong? During his prayer time that morning, he was distracted. His spiritual heart seemed to falter. His mind wandered. He steeled himself, trying to will himself to get closer to God. It didn’t help. He just felt “off”.
When Joshua went to work at the sawmill, he was surprised to find a note from his boss. He was to get a raise starting the next week. Then, a co-worker who always seemed cantankerous praised his work. An hour later, Joshua drank his morning coffee when he noticed that his wife had included a fresh-baked cinnamon roll in his lunch bucket. What a great day he was having! And yet, Joshua couldn’t shake this feeling that something wasn’t quite right in heart and soul.
For several weeks, this “off” feeling continued to eat at Joshua. His prayer time became repetitive and dull. Perusing his morning meditation and reading his Bible didn’t lift his mood. Something just wasn’t right in his time with God.
While speaking to his best friend who also attended his church, Joshua heard about a spiritual retreat the next month. The two decided to go. The retreat was to have lots of time for rest and relaxation at a resort. For fun, the organizers of the retreat had arranged for a local fishing legend to talk about how to best catch Northern Pike in local lakes. Joshua loved fishing! This was going to be fun.
At the retreat, Joshua felt the Bible Study times were lackluster. The local fishing legend was a great guy who had lots of wisdom about fishing. The man also spoke about the connections between fishing for Northern Pike and “fishing” for Godly benefits. It was a good weekend. But still, Joshua returned home to find that his morning prayer time lacked “spirit”.
Despite the retreat and his dedication, Joshua began to sleep in at least half of the mornings in the weeks following the retreat. His prayer time was halved. His meditational book hadn’t been touched. Personal Bible Study began to be unappealing. As spring spilled into summer, Joshua began to find himself busier than ever. After work, he went fishing or went out with friends. His wife enjoyed a few day trips they had taken together. His son won a spelling bee! Joshua’s life was looking up in so many ways…… and yet, he still felt “off” in heart and soul.
By late fall, Joshua was feeling down. He regretted seeing that first snow. Winter was coming. Joshua dreamed about more fishing or maybe taking a vacation to warmer climes. When Christmas came around, Joshua was not very excited about the lights and decorations and upcoming festivities with family and friends. Joshua couldn’t shake this feeling that he was missing something. Then, with Christmas past, Joshua slowly began to slide into a depression. He began to sit in his chair and brood. He neglected to clean his workshop. He mindlessly watched TV for hours on end. His wife began to sense Joshua was upset and started worrying about their marriage. Joshua and his son hadn’t made any plans for that normal father-son weekend event at their church. What was wrong?
One morning after a winter snow, Joshua left for work. On the way, he turned a corner and saw a deer right in the middle of his lane! He slammed on the brakes but could not avoid the crash. He hit the deer…. hard. Joshua exited his truck to find that his radiator had been pierced and the front of his car was damaged extensively. He had hit a big buck. As Joshua looked over the damage to his truck, he heard something. He noticed by the side of the road a ways back that the deer was lying in a pool of blood struggling to breathe. As he came closer, the deer was thrashing violently. Then, as Joshua watched, the deer made a horrible hissing and then breathed his last and went still. The air grew silent. The blood around the deer began to darken in the white snow. Joshua realized in that moment that the beautiful deer would no longer be able to run and jump. Joshua wondered how much the deer would be missed. Looking at the scene, Joshua began to cry. He actually sobbed. He reached out and touched the deer at the neck. The animal had struggled so hard to live. Now, it lay lifeless. It was no longer a beautiful and majestic animal… and it was his own fault for driving down that very road on that day.
Joshua called for a wrecker and sat by the side of the road waiting for the tow truck. He called his wife to report what had happened. He called work and took the day off. In the stillness of the morning air, Joshua began to pray. He asked God why all this had happened. Then, as he looked at the deer, something came to mind. For a long time, Joshua had not counted his blessings. He had been blessed in so many ways and had failed to adequately see all the ways God was touching his life. Like that deer, no longer beautiful and majestic, his spiritual life had died a horrible death. What had killed it? By not seeing the blessings that were all around him, Joshua was not able to give honest and forthright thanks for all God was doing in his life. On the side of the road that day, Joshua dedicated himself to spending ten minutes in prayer every morning giving thanks for everything God had given. He would not let his life go by without giving thanks. Even in that moment, while the snow fell, John reached out with his hand to touch the deer; then said a prayer to God, giving thanks for that beautiful animal that had given him a revelation that day. He thanked God for keeping him safe on the slippery road that morning. He began to think of others to give thanks for, other blessings to include in the prayer. Joshua felt like his spiritual heart grew three sizes bigger that day!
Matthew 5:8 includes some of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount. His words not only rang true two thousand years ago, but they also ring true today. Joshua couldn’t “see God” in his daily life because he had forgotten to notice all the blessings around him. He failed to adequately give thanks for God’s providence. Because of this, Joshua was lacking “a pure heart”. This resulted in his inability to “see God”. Jesus promised in Matthew 5:8 that the pure in heart would “see God”. They would be blessed. Sometimes, the heart or soul or mind can become clouded. Life can get in the way. Proverbial dark clouds can gather. Problems can shake up the soul. Then, you lose sight of God.
When you are finding it hard to “see God”, look for something that is causing impurities in your heart. Is something missing? Is a habit taking you away from time with God? Is a sin pulling you down? Is a temptation or attitude causing you to be depressed or angry or worried or cynical? Is something sapping your spiritual strength? Are you too busy to commune with the Lord? Have you let something get in the way of your passion for Christ?
The pure in heart WILL see God. When we lack that pure heart, we sometimes lose sight of God’s presence or providence or blessings.
The day bloomed brightly. It was a glorious spring day. The trees were beginning to bud. The birds seemed to sing more beautifully. Why did Joshua feel something was wrong? During his prayer time that morning, he was distracted. His spiritual heart seemed to falter. His mind wandered. He steeled himself, trying to will himself to get closer to God. It didn’t help. He just felt “off”.
When Joshua went to work at the sawmill, he was surprised to find a note from his boss. He was to get a raise starting the next week. Then, a co-worker who always seemed cantankerous praised his work. An hour later, Joshua drank his morning coffee when he noticed that his wife had included a fresh-baked cinnamon roll in his lunch bucket. What a great day he was having! And yet, Joshua couldn’t shake this feeling that something wasn’t quite right in heart and soul.
For several weeks, this “off” feeling continued to eat at Joshua. His prayer time became repetitive and dull. Perusing his morning meditation and reading his Bible didn’t lift his mood. Something just wasn’t right in his time with God.
While speaking to his best friend who also attended his church, Joshua heard about a spiritual retreat the next month. The two decided to go. The retreat was to have lots of time for rest and relaxation at a resort. For fun, the organizers of the retreat had arranged for a local fishing legend to talk about how to best catch Northern Pike in local lakes. Joshua loved fishing! This was going to be fun.
At the retreat, Joshua felt the Bible Study times were lackluster. The local fishing legend was a great guy who had lots of wisdom about fishing. The man also spoke about the connections between fishing for Northern Pike and “fishing” for Godly benefits. It was a good weekend. But still, Joshua returned home to find that his morning prayer time lacked “spirit”.
Despite the retreat and his dedication, Joshua began to sleep in at least half of the mornings in the weeks following the retreat. His prayer time was halved. His meditational book hadn’t been touched. Personal Bible Study began to be unappealing. As spring spilled into summer, Joshua began to find himself busier than ever. After work, he went fishing or went out with friends. His wife enjoyed a few day trips they had taken together. His son won a spelling bee! Joshua’s life was looking up in so many ways…… and yet, he still felt “off” in heart and soul.
By late fall, Joshua was feeling down. He regretted seeing that first snow. Winter was coming. Joshua dreamed about more fishing or maybe taking a vacation to warmer climes. When Christmas came around, Joshua was not very excited about the lights and decorations and upcoming festivities with family and friends. Joshua couldn’t shake this feeling that he was missing something. Then, with Christmas past, Joshua slowly began to slide into a depression. He began to sit in his chair and brood. He neglected to clean his workshop. He mindlessly watched TV for hours on end. His wife began to sense Joshua was upset and started worrying about their marriage. Joshua and his son hadn’t made any plans for that normal father-son weekend event at their church. What was wrong?
One morning after a winter snow, Joshua left for work. On the way, he turned a corner and saw a deer right in the middle of his lane! He slammed on the brakes but could not avoid the crash. He hit the deer…. hard. Joshua exited his truck to find that his radiator had been pierced and the front of his car was damaged extensively. He had hit a big buck. As Joshua looked over the damage to his truck, he heard something. He noticed by the side of the road a ways back that the deer was lying in a pool of blood struggling to breathe. As he came closer, the deer was thrashing violently. Then, as Joshua watched, the deer made a horrible hissing and then breathed his last and went still. The air grew silent. The blood around the deer began to darken in the white snow. Joshua realized in that moment that the beautiful deer would no longer be able to run and jump. Joshua wondered how much the deer would be missed. Looking at the scene, Joshua began to cry. He actually sobbed. He reached out and touched the deer at the neck. The animal had struggled so hard to live. Now, it lay lifeless. It was no longer a beautiful and majestic animal… and it was his own fault for driving down that very road on that day.
Joshua called for a wrecker and sat by the side of the road waiting for the tow truck. He called his wife to report what had happened. He called work and took the day off. In the stillness of the morning air, Joshua began to pray. He asked God why all this had happened. Then, as he looked at the deer, something came to mind. For a long time, Joshua had not counted his blessings. He had been blessed in so many ways and had failed to adequately see all the ways God was touching his life. Like that deer, no longer beautiful and majestic, his spiritual life had died a horrible death. What had killed it? By not seeing the blessings that were all around him, Joshua was not able to give honest and forthright thanks for all God was doing in his life. On the side of the road that day, Joshua dedicated himself to spending ten minutes in prayer every morning giving thanks for everything God had given. He would not let his life go by without giving thanks. Even in that moment, while the snow fell, John reached out with his hand to touch the deer; then said a prayer to God, giving thanks for that beautiful animal that had given him a revelation that day. He thanked God for keeping him safe on the slippery road that morning. He began to think of others to give thanks for, other blessings to include in the prayer. Joshua felt like his spiritual heart grew three sizes bigger that day!
Matthew 5:8 includes some of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount. His words not only rang true two thousand years ago, but they also ring true today. Joshua couldn’t “see God” in his daily life because he had forgotten to notice all the blessings around him. He failed to adequately give thanks for God’s providence. Because of this, Joshua was lacking “a pure heart”. This resulted in his inability to “see God”. Jesus promised in Matthew 5:8 that the pure in heart would “see God”. They would be blessed. Sometimes, the heart or soul or mind can become clouded. Life can get in the way. Proverbial dark clouds can gather. Problems can shake up the soul. Then, you lose sight of God.
When you are finding it hard to “see God”, look for something that is causing impurities in your heart. Is something missing? Is a habit taking you away from time with God? Is a sin pulling you down? Is a temptation or attitude causing you to be depressed or angry or worried or cynical? Is something sapping your spiritual strength? Are you too busy to commune with the Lord? Have you let something get in the way of your passion for Christ?
The pure in heart WILL see God. When we lack that pure heart, we sometimes lose sight of God’s presence or providence or blessings.