A Pure Heart

James put it in its most definitive context when he said: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4:7-8).

Although purity of heart is often spoken of in light of a life devoid of know sin, in its broader context, it has to do with attitude. James defined it as commitment, victorious spiritual conflict, conviction, cleansing from known sin, and a life concentrated on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Attitude is a very foundational aspect of the Christian life. It determines whom one serves, what he commits himself to, the intensity of his commitment, and the continuity of it. Paul considered it to be so important that he admonished that we have the attitude modeled in the life and commitment of the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5). Therefore, our attitude fundamentally determines our relationship with Christ and the extent that we serve Him.

1. A proper attitude toward God will cause us to be a living commitment to Jesus as our Lord. In such a context, dedication and steadfastness are the key words. One will never rise higher than that to which he is dedicated and he will never long depart from it. He will be steadfast in his devotion. His devotion must be to the Lord Jesus and all that He stands for.
2. A proper attitude toward God will cause us to know who the enemy is, to be consistent in our ongoing conflict with him, and to stand victoriously opposed to all that he is and represents. One will never long serve God and resist the devil if his attitude is not the attitude of Christ.
3. A proper attitude toward God will cause us to hunger for greater convictions and a more consistent, deeper walk with Jesus. If he is not careful, one can get to the place that he is "saved, sanctified, satisfied, and set in his ways." A person never gets to the point that his walk is all that it could be. The saints of old bemoaned their hardness of heart and voiced their hunger for a deeper and more profound walk with God. So should we!
4. A proper attitude toward God will cause us to shun the proximity and possibility of sin and to quickly address every failure through confession and cleansing. A Christ-centered attitude toward sin requires one to do away with all pretension, to live a transparent and consistent life dominated by His character and nature.
5. A proper attitude toward God will cause one to be more focused on all that he is and does. Double mindedness is an anathema to a faithful believer. It causes him to be doubtful in his faith-life, to be inconsistent in his walk, and to vacillate in his commitment. James insisted that the double-minded man would not receive anything from the Lord. Focus and single-mindedness are spiritual absolutes that both govern attitude and are governed by it.

There was a time that preachers spoke of spiritual disciplines as the essentials within oneself that required him to walk faithfully and fully before the Lord. The Christian life was not seen as a get "rich quick scheme," a "feel good" mentality, or a means of satisfying one's worldly ambitions. It was thought of in terms of crucifixion, warfare, saturating oneself in the Word, agonizing in prayer, and bringing glory to the Heavenly Father.

Joel voiced the need of this hour when he said, "Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil" (Joel 2:12-13).

Instead of looking at our brothers and sisters clucking our tongues in dismay and judgment, we must "Search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord" (Lamentations 3:40).

Jeff