1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
A pure heart is sincere, true and upright. Righteousness is the wall of a pure heart that is guarded by godly values and the Word of God. A pure heart is wise and full of virtue. In the soil of a pure heart, every good fruit will flourish. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23a).
The heart is a vital organ of the body that pumps blood through the network of blood vessels. It carries oxygen to the tissues and cells. Allegorically and literally our heart keeps our spiritual and the physical man alive, agile and active. When bacteria or other germs enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart, the germs spread to all the organs of the body infecting the different body parts. Likewise, a corrupt heart will corrupt the character and the conduct of a person.
Those who suffer from coronary heart disease (CHD) are advised not to do mountain hiking. ‘It may be advisable to avoid travelling to high altitudes or hot, humid places because this may put extra strain on your heart’. Similarly, the purity in our heart qualifies us to climb the holy mountain and into the secret haven of the Lord. Sediments of impurities in the heart will hinder us from entering into the shelter/protection of the Most High God. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4a). The spiritual heart condition will determine the overall spiritual health condition.
Pure Heart vs Corrupt Heart:
1. See: ‘The pure in heart’ are quick to admit their faults and shortcomings and are willing to correct and change. It is the purity in our heart that will get close to the heart of God. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). Secret sins, sloppiness and sedition will block our view from the glory of God.
2. Speak: ‘The pure in heart’ are not selective the way they address an issue. They will speak the complete truth even if it exposes their mistakes; however, the corrupt will only share what they want the audience to hear. They will filter and alter an issue, exaggerate or flatter to paint a pretty and innocent portrait of themselves. Those who massage and manipulate the truth are corrupt in their heart. Sincerity of our words will prove the purity or the contamination of our hearts.
3. Straight: Our conduct is the screen print of our heart. The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright (Proverbs 21:8). ‘Dirty hearts leave dusty trail and traits but pure hearts leave righteous fruits and footprints’.
A pure heart is a power-house that generates probity, posterity and prosperity.
1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, see if there be any hidden uncleanness in me and purify my heart to be as pure gold. Amen
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