Calling and Purity—their relationship.

Calling and Purity—their relationship. Matthew 5.8

It is called plate spinning. You’ve seen it, right? Where a juggler gets one plate (and then another), spinning on the end of the pole, and just as sure as it appears that one plate will peter out and fall, the juggler keeps it alive, and soon there are four plates spinning! I love the visual, and it certainly fits—for me. On one spinning plate in my head, I have Jesus’ calling of his first disciples, on another plate, teaching on “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God…”1

What does it mean to be pure in heart? The Greek word for ‘pure’ is ‘katharos’, which means clean, blameless, unstained by guilt. It is the same heart David asked for God to give him: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.2 A pure heart is one that desires to be transparent before God, with nothing to hide.

For me, it is when I am praying and ask God to reveal any sin in my heart or mind, and sincerely want to get rid of it and change my course, rather than act like it isn’t there.

Back to calling (and spinning plates), I went to the archives of Jim Cymbala,3 wanting to listen to teaching while I was getting ready to leave the house, and Cymbala used the word calling as Peter used it. Hmmm . . . “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”4 (And in my mind, I thought, ‘but Lord, I was looking for more on calling—like you called the first disciples, I wasn’t expecting him to go this direction with the word!) I put on my mascara and continued listening…

Calling. Then I was thinking about Paul’s usage of the word, remembering that he too admonished believers to live worthy of their calling.

First, his words to the Ephesians, who he adored. Paul begs them,

or as the King James Version states ‘beseeches them’

“to lead a life worthy of your calling,

for you have been called by God.

Always be humble and gentle.

Be patient with each other,

making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit,

binding yourselves together with peace.”

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander,

as well as all types of evil behavior.

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”5

So when Jesus said Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God, he was also referring to kindness and forgiveness in our relationships with one another. Our good and upright conduct is part of our calling, dear Christian;

and as Paul wrote to the Philippians6, it comes from being unified in love! Frankly, I first wrote this without including the words Paul wrote to the Philippians, using only their reference, but these thoughts are so apt for you and me today! So from the New Living Translation: “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

Oh, and one more thing—when Jesus said Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God, he is also referring to a heart that desires to be holy, even as he is holy ~ a heart that allows the Holy Spirit to shape and transform it into something beautiful . . . something pure.

Christine
PastorWoman.com

1 – Matthew 5.8

2 – Psalm 51.10

3 - Brooklyntabernacle.org, “Our Calling”, sermon from January 17, 2010

4 – 1 Peter 3.8-9

5 – Ephesians 4.1-3, 31-32

6 – Philippians 2.1-4, NLT