Living with a Pure Heart

 

Introduction

Imagine you’re in your early 20s, just going through the motions of life, when—out of nowhere—everything changes. That’s what happened to James. He wasn’t looking for God, but one night, after following a friend to a church service, he had an encounter with Jesus that turned his world upside down. It wasn’t just emotional or intellectual—it was real. He described it as feeling cleansed, awakened, and more alive than ever before.

James embraced his new faith with enthusiasm. He prayed, worshiped, read his Bible, and let go of his old, destructive habits. He knew that God loved him, that Jesus had died for him, and that one day, he would spend eternity in heaven. But after the excitement settled, he found himself facing a question that many believers wrestle with: What am I here for now?

He knew salvation wasn’t just about waiting for heaven. He saw others in the church following strict rules, but that didn’t seem to match the grace he had received. He heard that some were called to ministry, but he wasn’t sure if that was for him. Meanwhile, he was finishing his doctorate in computer science—was that part of his Christian life or just a side note? Was his faith only about getting saved and helping others do the same, or was there something more?

This is where many Christians find themselves—saved, but unsure of what comes after belief.

And here’s the answer: God didn’t just save us from something; He saved us for something. Our purpose is not just to get to heaven but to be transformed into the people He created us to be. Romans 8:29 tells us that God’s goal is to conform us to the image of His Son. In other words, the Christian life is about character—becoming more like Jesus in everything we do, whether in ministry, the workplace, or our daily interactions.

The question isn’t just, “What am I saved from?” but “What am I being shaped into?” Because the purpose of life isn’t just salvation—it’s transformation. (Adapted from After You Believe, N. T. Wright, pp. 1-3.)

---

The Heart of the Kingdom

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches what it means to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. We can make Kingdom citizenship all about following certain laws, believing that our righteousness is defined both by the spiritual things we do and the worldly things we avoid. However, our actions are only part of the story. What really matters is our heart—what we think, how we feel, and what we desire. These things influence the way we live.

Jesus taught that Kingdom citizens embrace values such as humility, meekness, and a hunger for righteousness. These values shape our mission: to influence the world for the Kingdom by being salt and light. To do that, we must live righteous lives—not just obeying the Law but being transformed from the inside out. Our motivations matter.

Looking forward, we must ask, Who am I when no one is watching? As N.T. Wright puts it, “When you’re suddenly put to the test and don’t have time to think about how you’re coming across, your real nature will come out. That’s why character needs to go all the way through: Whatever fills you will spill out. And it’s up to you to do something about it.”(After You Believe, p. 28.) Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:27-37 addresses how our thoughts, desires, and integrity reveal the true condition of our hearts.

---

Jesus’ Teachings on a Pure Heart

1. Purity Begins in the Heart (Matthew 5:27–28)

Jesus affirms the commandment against adultery but he takes it further—lustful thoughts are equivalent to adultery in God’s eyes. The issue is not mere attraction but dwelling thoughts and desires that take our hearts and minds in directions they are not intended to go. Lustful thoughts are sinful because:

• They defile marriage, even for those not married. Sex is reserved for marriage, and to place it anywhere else, even in our thoughts, dishonors God’s design for both marriage and sexuality.

• They reduce people to objects for self-gratification. Every person is created in God’s image and deserves honor and respect.

• They misuse God’s gift of imagination and reflection. Our minds are capable of creativity, problem-solving, and meditation. Paul instructs us in Philippians 4:8 to think about good things. Lust corrupts this gift.

We need to realize that lust is not some loophole for us to have some fun without actually sinning. Jesus taught that it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Examine your thought life and take steps to guard your mind.

2. Taking Radical Measures (Matthew 5:29–30)

Jesus uses hyperbole to emphasize the seriousness of sin—if something causes you to stumble, remove it. While not literal, this highlights the need for drastic action against temptation. The image Jesus presents is that of a resurrected body bearing the evidence of the struggle against sin rather than going to hell with whole body.

Lust may seem like a private sin, but Jesus teaches that it requires serious action. Filters and accountability help, but even a blind handless man can still lust. Since we live in a world full of temptation we need to have our hearts transformed. Pursue spiritual disciplines—prayer, meditation, and Scripture—to reorient your desires. One of the places to begin is this prayer from John Eldredge: Prayer for Sexual Healing. 

3. Honoring the Sanctity of Marriage (Matthew 5:31–32)

Jewish law permitted divorce, with rabbinical debates on what made divorce allowable. Some were lenient, others strict. What was the real issue? For Jesus the real issue wasn’t the justifiable reasons for divorce, but the sacredness of marriage. Marriage is to represent God’s covenant love for His people. Therefore divorce distorts the reflection of God’s faithfulness that is to be expressed through marriage.

Jesus isn’t entering into the divorce debate of his day, but rather he is emphasizing the fact that marriage is a sacred covenant that needs to be honored. Whether married, single, or divorced, we are all called to uphold the sanctity of marriage.

4. Integrity in Speech (Matthew 5:33–37)

In Jesus’ time, people swore oaths to manipulate trust. Some Jews would swear by God’s name, but most, in order to keep God’s name holy, would use substitutes that were connected with God (heaven, earth, Jerusalem). Jesus teaches that Kingdom citizens should be people of integrity, whose “yes” means yes and “no” means no. We already bear God’s name and act as His representatives, and because of this our word should be enough. 

Integrity matters. Let your words reflect God’s faithfulness. If you make a promise, keep it. A life of integrity mirrors the character of Christ.

---

Conclusion

Jesus calls us to a righteousness greater than the Pharisees—not through stricter rule-keeping but through heart transformation. This means:

• Taking decisive action against sin.

• Pursuing purity in thought and deed.

• Honoring commitments in marriage and relationships.

• Being trustworthy and truthful in all we say and do.

This requires self-examination. Where does your heart need help? Don’t be content with salvation alone—desire a heart continually transformed into the image of Jesus, reflecting His love, compassion, mercy, and integrity.

Challenge: Take time this week to examine your heart. Where do you need transformation? Pray, surrender, and trust that God, who began a good work in you, will carry it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Let God reshape your heart to reflect His purity, love, and integrity.

Marriage was God’s Idea

Marriage was his idea, after all. God created marriage, and put the desire in our hearts. However else it is you think you came together, what other forces you think were at work, the hopeful truth is that marriage is something God cares deeply about—including your marriage. When through the prophet Malachi the Lord God of Israel says, “I hate divorce,” we hear it with a shudder. But it ought to be with a surge of hope—the passion conveyed in those three words reveals how deeply he loves marriage, how strong his vested interests are in its success.

— John and Stasi Eldredge, Love and War: Finding the Marriage You've Dreamed Of, (pp. 17-18)

In life we have many types of relationships. There are the relationships that we form with the people at work or at school. There are the relationships that are formed with the people at church or in our sports league. There are the relationship that we have with our parents, siblings, and other relatives.

Among these relationships marriage is unique. Marriage is a relationship created around the promise to live life together. A relationship that is the foundation of family and creates the environment children need to mature into good people.

Christians believe that marriage is much more than a romantic relationship or contractual relationship created for mutual benefit. We believe that marriage is a sacred covenant ordained by God, and because it is given to us by Him, it contains His wisdom for what is best for people.

Marriage is not merely a union of two individuals but a reflection of God's eternal design for companionship, intimacy, and mutual support.

John and Stasi Eldredge point out that, "Marriage was his idea, after all." In other words, we should not do not devalue or diminish marriage. There is a reason why God gave us the idea of marriage, and when we minimize the value of marriage our relationships, families, and communities will suffer. Marriage is part of God’s plan for the flourishing of human beings.

From the beginning, God created man and woman in His image, each uniquely designed to complement and complete one another. As Genesis records the creation narrative, we read the divine proclamation, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

Woven within the fabric of our being is the longing for companionship. This is a desire placed within our hearts by God Himself. This desire for connection, intimacy, and partnership finds its ultimate fulfillment in the covenant of marriage. Not only does marriage provide an intimate connection between a man and a woman, but from marriage the comes other people who become our family and friends. It is because of marriage that none of us have to live alone.

Despite the complexities of human relationships and the all the different challenges we encounter, the foundational truth stands—marriage is a gift from God and is a reflection of His love and purpose for our lives.

It is no wonder that throughout history and in different cultures, marriage has been seen as a sacred institution, a relationship created not by human wisdom but by divine providence. It is true that marriage has not been practiced the same, but it has still held value in the ordering of cultures.

In Malachi 2:16 (NLT) we read:

“For I hate divorce!” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

Here we discover God’s plea to husbands to take marriage seriously and to love their wives, because their wives were dependent on them. At that time husbands had the life of their wives in their hands, and so God reminded them of their great responsibility.

Today, in the United States, things are different, but marriage is no less important, and a broken marriage still inflicts pain on all those involved. For marriage to be what God intended it to be, a relationship that benefits human flourishing, it must be built, not only on love, but also on faithfulness.

Loyalty and faith are essential for any covenant to endure. God’s covenant with His people endures because of God’s faithfulness. For a marriage covenant to endure it requires the faithfulness of the husband to his wife, the faithfulness of the wife to her husband, and for Christians, both their faithfulness to God. When faithfulness is lacking love is not able to endure.

In our culture it is love that draws people to marriage, but what holds that marriage together is that faithfulness that love creates. It is the commitment and loyalty that is present that results in the couple to be there together through all the ups and downs of life.

In a world marked by temporary relationships and changing values, the timeless truth of God's purpose for marriage provides a secure place to call home. All of us need a place of rest and safety that allows us to be recharged and strengthen to face all the challenges life has to offer.

So in a time that is plagued by loneliness, depression, and anxiety we should remember the importance of marriage. Not because these realities disappear in marriage, but because in a healthy, loving, and faithful marriage an environment is created that helps us face life together and thus reduces the impact of them on our life.

Part of God’s plan for human beings is marriage, and the more we devalue and diminish marriage, the more our families and communities will suffer.

Marriage and Discipleship

 Recently I was scrolling through Twitter and saw that one of the people I follow retweeted the following:

Is this good advice for single people?

I don't think so:

Marriage is wonderful. 

I can't imagine my life without my wife and children. They are a wonderful addition to my life.

The reality is that I have lived the majority of my life not married. For most of my adult life I was a single pastor who sought to follow Jesus. 

One of my regrets is that I wasted much of my time of singleness, because I continually believed that marriage and family was the missing part of my life. Rather than seeking God and His Kingdom, I sought after marriage. 

My discipleship was stunted as a result.

Consider what Jesus said about marriage:

Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!” 

“Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps. Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.” (Matthew 19:10-12; NLT)

 This does not sound like Jesus endorsed the advice to "get married soon" and "find a career." Rather, it seems like Jesus wants us to evaluate our lives and commit to a path that allows us to follow him. 

The path of singleness is a good but difficult life. Being single frees us from responsibilities that keep us from focusing solely on God's Kingdom and growing in holiness. It also creates the difficulty of being single in a world where couples and romance are celebrated and idolized. 

Being single is not easy, but it opens up the possibility of following Jesus at a deeper level than being married offers.

It is crucial that we do not offer up marriage as the perfect ideal for following Jesus. When we do we are in danger of turning marriage into an idol and making those who are single into second class citizens. 

Our marital status is not an indication of our discipleship. 

Our discipleship depends on our faithfulness to Jesus. May we continue to encourage one another, married and single, to remain faithful to him.