SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 22
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. [Proverbs 2:11]
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. [Matthew 5:7-9]
The heart is the place where priorities, values and decisions are set.
As goes the heart, so goes the mouth, the mind, the hands, the life.
A pure heart is not a perfect heart, but one that is set on the right goal.
Like a ship that uses a compass to achieve a distant port, our heart is set on the right (pure) goal, though at times we stray or are blown off course- but with the compass we realign our ship to get back on course.
A pure heart affirms the goodness of God, the need for grace and mercy, the blessing of peace, the rightness of God’s will, etc.
It will stray along the way, but because it knows where it wants to be, it corrects itself.

Solomon is observing that, as king, he is looking for loyal subjects that are committed to grace and truth.
I can imagine that any leader would sense the need for this, because all kinds of people would want to bend them to their own cause or purpose.
Solomon is not just looking for people who say the right words, but who are committed in their hearts to what is right and good.
God is the same, He is not just looking for people who put on a good show, who say the right things.
God is looking for those whose hearts value what He values, who are committed to truth and justice and morality and mercy, like Him.
These are the ones that He will call “friend”, or “children”; they will see God!

What is my heart set on – that which is true and good and honourable, or that which is pleasing to me, to my own selfish advantage?
Am I determined to be a God-kind of person, i.e. is that the port my compass is set on?
Sure, I will fail, but when I fail, do I strive to recalibrate and realign my life to the right goal?
This is the blessed life, the kind of life that God can and will bless.
He cannot and will not bless those who are only looking out for themselves, their pleasure.
He cannot and will not bless those who are only using Him for their own agendas.
God knows my heart, my internal compass, what really matters to me… what does He see?

PRAYER:
Lord, help me to have a pure heart, that is, one that is sincerely and seriously committed to truth and justice and mercy and peace and love. Help me get back on course where I am straying!