What do you add to your devotion to God to satisfy your desires? The equation usually looks like this: (God + __________ = satisfaction). What do you place in your blank? It might be money, sex outside of God’s design, porn, risk, a rush, a smoke, a toke, a drink, or a line. It might seem as innocent as attention, affection, acceptance, approval, bigness, an attractive spouse, behaving children, or even religion. In any case, the result is a mixed devotion of the heart. The Bible alludes to these mixed devotions as impurities, or idols, because they compete with our full devotion to God. John said that anyone who does evil has not seen God (3 John 11). In His sixth secret to satisfaction to surrender, Jesus taught a better way: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Who are satisfied? The pure in heart are satisfied. “Blessed are the pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8). The Bible uses the word “pure” most frequently in reference to precious metal, usually gold. Precious metals must be refined to become pure. This process involves intense heat that brings impurities to the top of the crucible (silver) or the furnace (gold) so that the refiner can remove them. The deepest impurities rise last after an intense time of heat. Just like the crucible is used for silver, and the furnace for gold, so God tests our hearts to discover whether they are pure — wholly devoted, or fully surrendered, to Him (Proverbs 17:3). Paul warned us to not be led away from our pure and sincere devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Our ultimate example of a pure heart is the heart of Christ. The Bible tells us that Christ is pure in heart (1 John 3:3; Hebrews 7:26). He demonstrated a fully surrendered heart with unmixed devotion to the Father.
Why are they satisfied? “They will see God” (Matthew 5:8). The God of the universe will demonstrate His kingdom in their hearts and lives. They will see Christ in themselves. This is illustrated in the molding of silver or gold. The metal refining process continues until the refiner can see his reflection in the metal. Then the metal is fashioned in its useful state. As the refiner of the heart, God removes our impurities until He sees the reflection of Christ’s pure heart in us (Romans 8:29). When God sees Christ in us, we see God. David noted that our desires would be satisfied when we see Him (Psalm 17:15). He communicated that God would show Himself pure to the pure in heart, but He would judge those with mixed devotions (2 Samuel 22:27; cf. Psalm 18:26). Addressing those with impurities, God promised to reveal Himself to anyone who would seek Him with all of his heart (Jeremiah 29:13).
How are they satisfied? They surrender their impurities (mixed devotions). Surrender says to God, “I can’t satisfy my desires with mixed devotions. You can satisfy my desires when they are fully devoted to you.” In order to do this, we need to follow David’s example — (1) ask God to search our heart for any mixed devotions (Psalm 139:23-24) and (2) create in us a pure heart (Psalm 51:10).
Ask God to search your heart for any mixed devotion and to renew in you a pure heart — one that is fully devoted to Him. You will be satisfied through your unmixed devotion to the Creator who will reveal Christ in you.
Episode 172: Satisfaction Through Surrender, Part 4: Be Pure In Heart, Peaceful, and Enduring from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.