Day 2--Vision

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). Think of four simple words.

Pure.
Heart.
See.
God.

We know what those words mean individually, but put them together and we enter a new realm. How do I know if I am “pure in heart"? What does it mean to “see God"? And how should we put these phrases together?

Danish philosopher Sören Kierkegaard wrote a book called Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing. The title tells you the essence of the book. If we want to “see God,” we must “will one thing.” Perhaps our deepest problem lies not in wanting the wrong things but wanting too many good things. 

We are so fragmented.
We are too much of this world.

Our problem is not double vision, but triple vision, quadruple vision. Our eyes dart hither and yon, seeking too many things–good things!–at once. 

The forty day Lenten journey asks us to slow down and to focus on what really matters. To will one thing. To truly want to see God in our daily going and coming. To make “seeing God” not merely one more thing on our to-do list for today but to have the purity of heart that brings God into focus.

There is mystery here, and miracle, to be sure. Our part is to “will one thing,” and that is what we must ask for.

To you, the God Who Sees Everything, we lift our prayer today. Purify our hearts that we might “will one thing.” Grant us spiritual vision to see you clearly. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. 

You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.