Pure

Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." -Jesus, circa 30 A.D.

Pure is defined as

- free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminating kind; free from extraneous matter: pure gold; pure water.

- free from foreign or inappropriate elements

- clear; free from blemishes: pure skin.

-	clean, spotless, or unsullied: pure hands.

-	untainted with evil; innocent: pure in heart.

I've struggled with what Jesus meant many times but this definition helped to "clear" some things up. I wrestled with the question, "am I pure by nature or is it something for which I continually strive?" I think it is both. Afterall, Jesus did say in John 13, that we are already clean. We are clean and spotless by nature. But, how often do we go through the day and attract foreign or inappropriate elements?

In Titus 1:15, Paul says "to the pure, all things are pure". In 1 John 3:3, John says that if we hope in Jesus, "we are pure just as he is pure". So, that's it - we're pure, we don't have to worry about anything else. Right?

I don't think so. We are in the world and not of the world. In the world, we contract what is different and impure all the time. In 1 Timothy 5:22, Paul instructs us to keep ourselves pure. In Titus 2, Paul instructs older women to teach younger women to be pure. In Philippians 2, Paul instructs us to live a live without complaining or arguing so that we can become pure. There's the promise! It is something you receive as you live a holy lifestyle and are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. If it was easy to live in this world and not contract impurities, there would be no instruction needed. And, that is what we continue to strive for -- to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. To run in such a way to win the prize. To stay close to the vine to receive what we need for without him, we can do nothing. Thoughts? What helps you in your efforts to stay pure?

Oh, that we may be pure in heart in order to see God.