June 9, 2025
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” -Matthew 5:8
Jesus traveled many miles during his ministry. He went from village to village and from city to city. His ministry was short, only about three years. During that time, Jesus was often surrounded by large crowds. He frequently needed time away. He would remove himself to places of solitude. Jesus would ascend a hill or mountain to spend time alone. The mountain tops often serve as a place for significant events, such as the Transfiguration in Matthew 17. Jesus showed us that we need time away, a specific time with God. Here we can reconnect with our first love without battling the constant distractions of daily life.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches, “Blessed are the pure in heart.” Of all the things Jesus teaches about in the Beatitudes, purity may be the most difficult for us. Purity is the focus of our heart on God. This is the first and greatest commandment. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) This is not a new commandment. We first encounter this commandment in the book of Deuteronomy 6:4-5. To have a heart focused on God was a challenge for the Hebrew people some 2,500 years ago, and it is even more challenging today.
Have you ever seen the animated movie Up? One of the best characters in this film is the Golden Retriever Dug. Dug is loving, happy, and faithful. Dug can talk with the help of a special dog collar. When Dug first meets Carl and Russell, he says, “I have just met you, and I love you.” Dug is a fan favorite. However, for me, Dug’s most relatable characteristic is his ease of being distracted. Scene after scene in the movie has Dug talking or in the midst of action, when he stops what he is doing, looks in a different direction, and says, “Squirrel.”
If we are honest, we are all a little like Dug. We are easily distracted. Work, family, hobbies, and the never-ending events in our world provide a steady stream of diversions that keep our focus away from being fully devoted to our God.
Taking time away is necessary. Jesus himself demonstrated this for us. We must unplug, disconnect, and remove ourselves from the constant noise. We do not have to walk up a mountain to separate ourselves from the distractions. Still, it is essential to physically remove ourselves from the ever-present ‘squirrels’ that so easily capture our attention. This time away is set aside to reconnect with our God. Prayer and Bible study are an important part of this time. When we remove the distractions, we must move quickly to replace them with the things that speak to us of the One who first loved us.
The faithful life Jesus teaches in the Beatitudes leads us to a deeper connection with God. This is where we find the peace and joy our hearts truly desire. We will be blessed when we remove the distractions and look for God.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” -Psalm 51:10
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
