Phil Rowlands

Hello, my friends!

Today, we're investigating two profound teachings from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount: purity of heart and peacemaking. These concepts are not just lofty ideals but transformative truths that can revolutionise our lives and relationships. So, let's explore what it truly means to have a pure heart and be a peacemaker in this complex world of ours.

Friends, have you ever considered the incredible power of your heart? I'm not talking about the physical organ pumping blood through your body, but the spiritual centre of your being. Jesus taught us in Matthew 12:34-35, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” This passage reveals a profound truth: everything we say and do flows from what's in our hearts.

Now, you might be wondering, “If my heart controls my life, what controls my heart?” It's a crucial question because our hearts are indeed influenced by outside factors. But here's the beautiful truth – when we come to faith in Christ, something miraculous happens. God gives us a new heart!

This isn't just a poetic metaphor. It's a promise from God Himself. In Ezekiel 36:26, He declares, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” This new heart is oriented towards God, filled with love for Him. As Paul reminds us in Romans 5:5, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

But what does it mean to have a pure heart? The Greek word for 'pure' is 'katharos', from which we get the word 'catheter'. Just as a catheter purges impurities from the body, having a pure heart means being cleansed of anything that would draw us away from God. It's not about being sinless – Christ has already purified us from sin, as Colossians 2:14 reminds us. Rather, it's about being single-minded in our devotion to God.

James 4:8 gives us a beautiful picture of this: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Purity of heart is freedom from double-mindedness. It's having a heart wholly devoted to God, not divided by competing loyalties or distractions.

Friends, when we have a pure heart, we begin to see God everywhere. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). This doesn't just refer to seeing God in the afterlife – it means having spiritual awareness in our daily lives. We see God at work in every circumstance, even in the midst of trials.

Think about Moses, who “endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). His pure heart allowed him to see God's hand at work, even when facing Pharaoh's wrath or leading a rebellious people through the wilderness. When our hearts are pure, undivided in their devotion to God, we too can see Him at work in every aspect of our lives.

But a pure heart doesn't just impact our relationship with God – it also affects our relationships with others. This is where peacemaking comes in. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

The world has been seeking peace for millennia, yet true peace remains elusive. Why? Because, as Paul tells us in Romans 3:17, “The way of peace they have not known.” You see, peace isn't just the absence of conflict. It's about being in harmony, being on the same page. And the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true way to peace.

In Ephesians 2, Paul gives us a beautiful picture of how Christ brings peace. First, we learn that peace is not a process, but a person. Ephesians 2:14 says, “For He Himself is our peace.” Jesus is the Prince of Peace, Jehovah Shalom. Any attempt to establish peace without Him is doomed to fail.

Secondly, Christ has made peace. He abolished the enmity between God and man, and between different groups of people. In the temple, there were numerous barriers – between God and man, between Jews and Gentiles, between men and women, between priests and laypeople. But when Christ died on the cross, all these barriers came crashing down.

The veil in the temple, which separated people from God's presence, was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died. This symbolised the new and living way into God's presence that Christ opened for us through His sacrifice. As Hebrews 10:19-20 says, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.”

But Christ didn't just reconcile us to God – He also reconciled us to each other. Ephesians 2:14-16 tells us, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”

Friends, in Christ, there are no more distinctions that separate us. We are all one body, reconciled to God and to each other through the cross. The ground is level at the foot of the cross – we all stand before God on the basis of grace alone.

This is why it's so tragic when we allow issues to divide us in the body of Christ. When we put something in the place of Someone, or add something to the finished work of Christ, we disrupt the peace He died to bring us. Whether it's denominational distinctions, arguments over non-essential doctrines, or man-made rules and regulations, these things can all become barriers that separate us from our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul reminds us in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” It's not about rules and regulations, but about the righteousness we have in Christ, the peace we have with God and each other, and the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit.

As peacemakers, our job is to preach this gospel of peace. We can't make peace until we know the way of peace. And that way is Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. When we understand and embrace this truth, we become instruments of peace in a divided world.

James gives us a beautiful picture of the wisdom that produces peace. In James 3:17-18, he writes, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Notice the order: first pure, then peaceable. When our hearts are pure – wholly devoted to Christ and His finished work – we become peacemakers. We're able to look beyond the issues that divide and focus on the One who unites us. We can extend grace to others because we've experienced the amazing grace of God ourselves.

This doesn't mean we never disagree or that we compromise on essential truths. But it does mean that we approach disagreements with humility, gentleness, and a willingness to listen. We recognise that our ultimate allegiance is to Christ, not to our own opinions or traditions.

Being a peacemaker also means actively working to break down barriers and build bridges. It might mean reaching out to someone from a different denomination or cultural background, seeking to understand their perspective and find common ground in Christ. It might mean mediating conflicts within your family or community, always pointing people back to the Prince of Peace.

Remember, Jesus didn't say “Blessed are the peace-lovers” or “Blessed are the peace-wishers.” He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Making peace is active work. It requires courage, wisdom, and a pure heart wholly devoted to God.

So how do we cultivate this purity of heart that leads to peacemaking? Here are a few practical steps. Stay focused on Jesus. Keep your eyes fixed on Him, not on the storms around you or the faults of others. Regularly examine your heart. Ask God to show you any areas of double-mindedness or divided loyalty. Meditate on God's Word. Let the truth of Scripture shape your thoughts and attitudes. Practice forgiveness. Don't let bitterness or resentment take root in your heart. Seek unity, not uniformity. Celebrate the diversity within the body of Christ while holding fast to the essential truths of the gospel. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Seek to understand before being understood. Pray for your enemies. It's hard to stay angry at someone you're praying for.

Be blessed today, my brothers and sisters. May your hearts be pure, wholly devoted to our Lord Jesus Christ. And may that purity of heart make you powerful peacemakers in a world desperate for true peace. Remember, it's all about Jesus – Jesus plus nothing. Let's stand together for this gospel of peace, breaking down barriers and building bridges in the name of Christ. As we do, we'll find ourselves living out the beautiful reality of Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

Phil