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Monday December 16 - Purified by Jesus “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
Imagine for a moment being in that crowd, hearing Jesus preach. All eyes are riveted on him, for his teaching is astonishing – he speaks with authority, as though his words come straight from the mouth of God. Because, of course, they do. Jesus reveals his heavenly status by what he says, promising blessings, in the way God himself does: “the pure in heart will see God.”
Did anyone there that day realise that this promise was being fulfilled even as he spoke; that Jesus himself would be the purifier of human hearts? When this beautiful promise fell from Jesus’ lips, did some spines tingle, some hearts skip a beat... and do ours, as he promises this afresh to us today?
How wonderful that we are so dearly loved by Jesus, and that faith in his death and resurrection guarantees that we will stand before God at the end of all time, counted as ‘pure in heart’! What blessedness to know that his Holy Spirit is at work right now in our hearts, transforming us to live like the glorious Lord Jesus – with full assurance that we will see him face to face!
Are you seeking to live and love like Jesus? He is at work as you read his word and seek to do his will; and wonderfully even the desire to do so comes from him.
Precious Lord – living in me, knowing my still sinful heart’s desires – purify my heart afresh to worship and obey you, and increasingly help me to say “no” to sin. Amen.
Tuesday December 17 - Beautiful Prince of Peace “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Mt 5:9
Once again, Christmas lights brighten our hemisphere’s dark days, and Isaiah’s prophesies joyfully proclaim the coming of our glorious Jesus: ‘...Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Centuries after Isaiah’s seismic prophecy Jesus strode through Galilee, bringing the dawn of God’s government of peace. People were ‘amazed at his teaching’ (Matthew 7:28); however, this early in Jesus’ ministry, few ‘connected the dots’ to realise that God’s beautiful Prince of Peace himself stood before them – empowered to change hearts.
A quick glance at the news shows that even the best human governments fail to develop perfect societies. The Bible says this is because our biggest problem is not economic or sociological, but the human heart – and our hearts always bend towards sin and selfishness. Jesus teaches a radically new way to live, and crucially, transforms our hearts from within.
From this side of the cross we’re privileged to know how Jesus’ sacrifice ended our warring against God, and how faith in him admits us into God’s Kingdom of peace. What blessedness – to be no longer God’s enemy, but his deeply loved son or daughter!
Jesus loves to restore our broken lives and remake us; his Spirit makes lingering sin feel increasingly repugnant and helps us to repent and reject it.
Lord Jesus, I pray for those who don’t know you. Please transform their hearts to receive the blessedness of God’s peace, now and forever. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY