Random Bonhoeffer
I was in the umm..., library, yeah, that's it, the library and I opened The Cost of Discipleship to a random page. I found where Bonhoeffer was speaking on the Beatitudes. I include a whole section from the book.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
Who is pure in heart? Only those who have surrendered their hearts completely to Jesus that He may reign in them alone. Only those whose hearts are undefiled by their own evil--and by their own virtues too. The pure in heart have a child-like simplicity like Adam before the fall, innocent alike of good and evil: their hearts are not ruled by their conscience, but by the will of Jesus. If men renounce their own good, if in penitence they have renounced their own hearts, if they rely solely upon Jesus, then His Word purifies their hearts. Purity of heart is here contrasted with all outward purity, even the purity of high intentions. The pure heart is pure alike of good and evil, it belongs exclusively to Christ and looks only to Him who goes on before. Only they will see God, who in this life have looked solely unto Jesus Christ, the Son of God. For then their hearts are free from all defiling phantasies and are not distracted by conflicting desires and intentions. They are wholly absorbed by the contemplation of God. They shall see God, whose hearts have become a reflection of Jesus Christ.
What do I have to add to that? Not a whole lot.
"Father in Heaven, this is my cry, to be pure in heart, to let your Son reign in my heart and in my life. I want to see you. Purify my heart and let me be ever more like Jesus. In the name of Christ, amen."
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
Who is pure in heart? Only those who have surrendered their hearts completely to Jesus that He may reign in them alone. Only those whose hearts are undefiled by their own evil--and by their own virtues too. The pure in heart have a child-like simplicity like Adam before the fall, innocent alike of good and evil: their hearts are not ruled by their conscience, but by the will of Jesus. If men renounce their own good, if in penitence they have renounced their own hearts, if they rely solely upon Jesus, then His Word purifies their hearts. Purity of heart is here contrasted with all outward purity, even the purity of high intentions. The pure heart is pure alike of good and evil, it belongs exclusively to Christ and looks only to Him who goes on before. Only they will see God, who in this life have looked solely unto Jesus Christ, the Son of God. For then their hearts are free from all defiling phantasies and are not distracted by conflicting desires and intentions. They are wholly absorbed by the contemplation of God. They shall see God, whose hearts have become a reflection of Jesus Christ.
What do I have to add to that? Not a whole lot.
"Father in Heaven, this is my cry, to be pure in heart, to let your Son reign in my heart and in my life. I want to see you. Purify my heart and let me be ever more like Jesus. In the name of Christ, amen."
posted by Douglas at 1:28 AM
1 Comments:
"Pursue...holiness, without which no man can see God." May we ever seek to become like Christ, humble and meek. He alone bore our sins, but that doesn't mean we should heap them on as high as they will go--how long will take until we realize it is not just His back we break? Have we forgotten about His heart, in which salvation gave its start? Thank God for His mercy, but may we be more inclined to submit, instead of disregarding His commands, lest our own noose we shall knit.
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