Today’s scripture: Matthew 5:8 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Tyler Connoley):
We feed our dogs twice a day, at 7:30am and 7:30pm. Our big dog, Lexi, doesn’t much care if or when she gets fed. But our little dog, Lucia, loves to eat and has a precise inner time clock. As soon as it gets close to 7:30, Lucia starts reminding us. She whines, she paces, she whines some more, she looks in her bowl, she nudges us with her nose. Heaven forbid I’m sitting at my desk writing, rather than puttering around in the kitchen at 7:15 (much less 7:30). Lucia is single-minded — I might even say dogged — in her persistence, and I can’t get anything done until I feed her.
This is what I think of when I read, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Søren Kierkegaard, a nineteenth century theologian and philosopher, said, “Purity of heart is to will one thing.” And Rich Mullins, a twentieth century Christian singer and songwriter, expanded on this idea with his song My One Thing. (You can listen to it here.)
My One Thing begins with the lines, “Everybody I know says they need just one thing, but they really mean is they need just one thing more.” When we humans want something, we can be dogged in our pursuit of it. Think about the amount of energy people put into the iPhone 4 launch, as people read every review and leak that came out about it, and then waited in line for hours to get it on the day it arrived in stores. When we want something, we’re just like my little Lucia, pacing the floor and watching the clock.
Rich Mullins puts this into perspective when he sings to God, “You’re my one thing. And the pure in heart shall see God.” It’s a song of hope that we will get the desires of our heart. As Jesus promised, the pure in heart will see God.
Thought for the day: Matthew 5:8 prompts us to stop and consider what we’re dogged about. Am I single-minded in my pursuit of God and God’s love? Or am I more motivated in my pursuit of something else? God, help me to have the focus to be dogged in my pursuit of You.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.