BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART
FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD
Just think of it! What we see in the outer world is defined by how we are in our hearts.
Most of us are well aware that we tend to see life from different perspectives. Two people can see the same event and see different things happening. Two persons can meet the same individual at the same time and come away with different impressions of that individual.
To stress that point I ask you to look at the pictures in your bulletin. Turn to the individual beside you and share with them what you see.
1. How many saw the same thing initially as your neighbor
2. How many of you saw the old witch?
3. How many of you saw the young lady?
Ask some people how they perceive the world in which they live and they will say:
WORLD IS A PLACE OF GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
All one has to do is to prepare to go into the world andone will reap the joys of life.
PLACE FILLED WITH CARING AND LOVING PEOPLE
Over the years I've experienced this concept time after time in the congregations I've served. Especially is this true in times of death, or illness or difficulties in the family. Persons from the church have stood by and the difference was quite impressive.
WORLD IS FILLED WITH TAKERS ...
One has to be careful because everyone is out to take what you have. Drive a hard bargain. You must be smarter than the next person or you'll be taken.
Even though we all live in the same world and experience basically the same thing all one has to do is to attend a discussion Sunday School Class to learn that we tend to perceive the world through different eyes.
BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD
THE PURE IN HEART ARE THOSE WHO ARE RIGHT WITH GOD ... WHO SEEK THE TRUTH IN ALL THINGS.
These people are those whose lives are built around their spiritual commitment. To do the will of God is their desire; for in so doing they believe their lives will be filled with harmony.
Now preacher that is stretching a good point too far. No one even in the Bible ever saw God. Moses was in his presence once and spoke to him face to face (Exodus 33:11) It changed his whole countenance. Jesus never claimed to see God. Angels were God's messengers to the world even in Biblical times. What is this PURITY WHICH ALLOWS US TO SEE GOD?
TO ME IT MEANS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SEE WHERE GOD HAS BEEN IN OUR LIVES, AND TO AFFIRM THE WORK GOD IS PRESENTLY DOING IN OURLIVES.
FOOTPRINTS
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: One belonging to hi and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, He looked back at the footprint in the sand. he noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I can not understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The Lord replied ... My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
II. WHAT IS GOD DOING IN YOUR LIFE?
NOT ONE OF US HAVE EVER SEEN GOD LIKE MOSES WHILE HE WAS ON MT. SINAI. NONE OF US CAN COMPREHEND GOD LIKE JESUS.
In MALORY'S ...KING ARTHUR AND KNIGHT OF TH ROUND TABLE
Sir Percival's sister came to the court late one evening in the absence of the King and tells of seeing the Holy Grail. The cup from whence Jesus drank at the Last Supper. She challenged the knight to take a year, and each one of them seek that Grail. Many of the Noble and brave knights took up her challenge.
The next day Arthur came to court and was told what happened. He was distressed. Distressed because he knew that for one year his men would be struggling through the world looking for a mystical item of history which could only be seen in the heart.
Arthur chastised his men for accepting the mission. He looked at them and said only Galahad, and possible Percival would succeed. They are men who see with their hearts. The rest of you are men of war. The search will either destroy you or drive you insane.
Arthur was right. Only Galahad saw it clearly. Percival saw it through the eyes of Galahad, as he described what he saw in dying.
DJ was a young man in our church ... Father was a Major in the Marine Corps. Wanted son to attend Naval Academy. Thought he wanted to be a lawyer. Wanted to attend a Church related school. He was taken to Pfeiffer College. Was given a President's Scholarship and a work fellowship. Graduated with honors, went to Harvard, and now the president for a Methodist College.
When David went to Pfeiffer a letter went to the head of the religion department telling the professor there that he was coming and that he was going to be a minister ...even though he did not know it at that moment. Christmas David came home. There's something strange in my life. You know I don't have much religion! You know I don't trust the church very much. Do you think I could be a minister. The answer was Yes.
Many people can not see God at work in their lives, others need to tell them that they do. One of those persons could be you.
The Myers/Briggs Personality test tells us about ourselves. It tells us how we deal with life. People who are intuitive/feeling persons usually have a sensitivity toward religion, and the things of faith. Thinkers, and highly organized over achievers may be too self oriented to deal with the feeling level of life. They could never have a religious awakening like a feeling, intuitive person can. The feelers will have to interpret for them.
Have you seen God at work in your life?
in your church?
in the life of another?
Did you tell? Remember to be able to see God is to have a pure heart, open to God.