I have one of those faces. You know . . . the kind that shows every thought. My friends can always tell if I disagree with something or if I'm trying really hard to cover shock or disappointment. I've always been bad at hiding anything. So a few years ago I determined that, if my thoughts and attitudes were going to be so obviously displayed, rather than trying to perfect new facial expressions–I needed to purify my heart!
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
This verse holds exciting promise. It motivates me to pursue purity. If purity was simply “checking the box” as I scroll down the daily actions of life, it would be much easier:
Had daily devotional time
Cooked breakfast for family
Sent card to friend in hospital
Baked cookies for youth Bible study
Purity of heart reaches far deeper than my daily actions–it should dictate my daily actions, but sadly, it's possible to perform lots of “good” activities with an impure heart. Remember Jesus' word to the Pharisees about this in Luke 11:39?
“Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish,
but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.”
Whoa. Pretty direct statement there. I wonder how He views my “cleansing of the cup and dish?”
A few years ago I did a study on purity of heart and came up with a few questions to evaluate my motives. You see, we can be performing some pretty spectacular looking, super-duper, spiritually impressive activities . . . but if our motives are impure, these activities are worthless.
Consider a few of these self-examination questions that can help determine motive:
• Would I be doing ____________ [fill in the blank] if no one ever noticed my efforts?
• Are my friends mainly people who can help me or offer some beneficial service to my life?
• Do I serve my employer for monetary reasons only?
• Do I treat coworkers as well as I treat those who can advance my agenda?
• Do I show respect and kindness to those who will not repay me?
• Do my thoughts include ideas to manipulate circumstances for my own benefit?
• Do I often attempt to present myself to others in a better light than is accurate?
• Am I hiding certain things from my spouse?
• Do I treat my family better when we are in front of others?
• Would I give financially to ministry opportunities if it weren’t tax deductible?
• Do I serve in certain capacities because of the respect it brings?
• Would I live my life any differently if no one were watching?
Consider compiling your own list, or you might want to share a few suggestions here with us. Please feel free to add to this list or to share anything God may have shown you today about impure actions.
Leave a Comment:
We love hearing from you, and will post your comment as long as it is appropriate, and is written in a tone that is encouraging, edifying, and loving to others. Even then, know that the following comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Revive Our Hearts.
Comments
These are all things that have been pressing on my heart lately.
Thanks for sharing!
on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 10:55 am
Last week our church had to move into a new office space. I volunteered to do the painting and the set up of the office. I thought it was an act of service to the Lord and to the pastor, my husband. However, I found myself having an inflexible and controlling attitude all week. I am pretty convicted now that I took on the task because I wanted to be in control and thought I could do the work better than anyone else instead of having a humble servant's heart and pure motives. Ouch!!
on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 11:29 am
In response to your post, I in the past I was on the opposite end of the spectrum. I never showed anything on my face. Since I was a litte girl of about 5 years old my relatives used to call me
"poker face" in other words face of stone, showing no feelings or emotions. And that name went well into my 20's. My high school friends used to say
if Tambras not talking somethings not good.
Because my mouth always expressed my shock, my disagreements ,and disapointements. I always believed in being totally honest. I could not stand lies. And since I had no fear of people my speech was not very gentle, and sometimes harsh. But through the study of James (That you did) God has transformed my mouth and my heart in a big way. And I do fear the Lord and what His Truth says. I want to be right with Him.
I believe facial expressions can be a learned behavior or the results of the environment we lived in growing up or the reaction our parents had toward us as children. In my case a tear or sadness would result in punishment. I still may have some of those poker face days but they are now being taken captive by the throne of Christ.
I now allow myself to show my emotions, and feelings because He heres us when we cry out to him in brokeness and heals our hearts.
(Refering back to the list)
*Doing_____ should be for the sole purpose of Gods will and glorifying God or it is vanity.
*My closest friends should not be the ones that are always puffing me up but also, showing me my faults in love.
*We should give our time to the little people in the world and not just the ones we hold the highest respect for.
* Before we pour out our thoughts or react to things around us, we should consider all others that are involved and not just our own feelings.
* We should never be wise in our own eyes.
* Protecting your spouse and not telling him things have two different meanings. Keeping things from him is the same as lying to him.
* If you treat your family different in front of others, you are being fake.
*Give cash to a missionary student-invest in The Kingdom and tell no one.
* What profit is it to gain respect of the whole world and to dishonor God the one whom we are to glorify.
*When it is all said and done, why should we care who is watching, we should not live our lives to please others or to make ourselves look good.
We should live for Truth and give God the Glory.
What matters is when we face the King what will we have done for the Kingdoms sake?
As far as purity goes what good are we to God if we act in one way before others (like we are blameless) but cling to our own selfish desires. We would be a worthless vessel. Just as the most beautiful crystal vase being filled with brown dead roses.
on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Thanks for sharing. Great questions and I'm glad to know you've been reflecting on this issue.
I went to your blog site and loved it! I read in your post about the Life Action Ministry team that is serving in your church this week -- and guess what -- my son is the red headed bass player on the worship team, so tell him his mom told you to say "Hi" for me! : - )
Wow. The internet really makes it a smaller world after all.
on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 1:04 am
Thank you for being so open with us. Conviction is always painful, but it is worth it when we allow God to use it in our lives.
I'm glad you confessed here, among sisters who will be glad to encourage and pray for you, but I hope you'll also confess and ask forgiveness if your attitude or actions could have been offensive to anyone you were around while painting and setting up the office last week.
Your heart of humility will always be a place for God to fill His grace!
Thanks for sharing, sister.
on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 1:13 am
I definitely don't want to be a beautiful crystal vase filled with brown dead roses!
on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 1:15 am
John Macarthur says; The genuine believer will not contradict his profession of faith by the regular use of unwholesome words. When I read that I was like oh, that does not just mean bad words, that means any harsh, or sarcastic or even a bad tone in my voice. That is such a convicting statement. It is the same as having wickedness inside the cup. I so want my heart to be pure in God's eyes.
on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 9:20 am
This particular topic has been one I've been examining in my own life for a couple of months: whether or not my motives are selfish. Kim, you know that because of a conversation we had one day. Sometimes it's just so subtle and I must admit that I have a difficult time discerning. I so desire to have a pure heart before God. One principle that I've learned in the past four years at the church I attend is: fear of God vs. fear of man. In other words, I cannot allow what others think of me control me, rather what God thinks. HE is the only one who really matters. Apart from that, I do think it is important to please my husband as well. I just didn't want to leave that out because part of my loving the Lord is obedience to Him in the area of loving and respecting my husband. May the Lord continue to grow us in the area of purity of heart for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom.
on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 10:10 am
I'm glad you enjoyed my blog! I can't believe Caleb is your son. They were at our church back in the fall, too. I will have to tell him that his mom said "hi". It really is a small world! :)
on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:56 am
You have such a sweet heart, that is so obvious in that you want to be obedient to God and respect your husband, you are so right. Placing God first is what you are doing when you submit to your husband, even when sometimes it seems our husbands may not be making the right decisions.
Oh----that's another one of those convicting studies that Kim did "submission." Boy, that was a tough one.
I remember crying for weeks over that one.
But I am thankful for Gods Truth, and that He forgives. I love your heart dear sister!
PS My husband and I will be married 29yrs Sunday.
on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 3:29 pm