Blessed are the Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:8 says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." That's a pretty sobering thought considering that I know nothing in me is pure. It has caused me to wrestle with question today about how I respond when I have been offended because of one's sin against me. Wow! Look at that...."because of one's sin against me." I'm not quite sure where I am going with this, but here I am questioning my heart's desire for purity when all of a sudden I realize I am just so concerned with me. How revolting!

If I can plagiarize from a message given by my wonderful pastor, Paul Cooke, "The heart is the inner, spiritual person that is the seat of affections, emotions, thinking, desiring, willing, and acting. God judges, searches, and pursues the heart (1 Sam. 16:7, 1 Ch. 28:9, Prov. 23:26). He investigates and pursues in order to purify our hearts. He is pleading to us that we might submit to him." Looking at this I realize my heart is so far from pure, but there is also great hope because what God promises is that he will pursue me in order to accomplish this purpose. Does this mean I have no responsibility in this process? Not at all! This quote by John Blanchard says it beautifully, "For the pure in heart, holiness is not a pastime; it is a passion. It means relentlessly seeking to bring every area of life in to conformity with God's word and will." Again, plagiarizing Paul, "Purity is a singly-devoted, unmixed, fervent heart of love for God's glory." This is my greatest desire!