DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A PURE HEART

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A PURE HEART

"Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is not deceit!' Nathanael said to him, 'How did You know me?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.' " (John 1:47-48)

Nathanael was a man without deceit. Nathanael had a pure heart. There was no guile or craftiness. There was no double meaning to his words. He was honest enough to say what he thought. When Philip found Nathanael and told him about the Jesus, Nathanael said, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46). He did not mince words. He was not one to brownie up to someone to gain their approval.

Jesus was drawn to Nathanael, even in spite of his skepticism, and called Nathanael to follow Him.

There is a place for restraining our lips from saying what we really think when it comes to our relationships with people. But we need to be honest enough to be open with God.

I think Jesus would rather have us to be honest, than to cover up what we really think. After all, He knows us, just as he knew Nathanael. He sees us as we are. It's no use trying to be crafty with God. As the Psalmist wrote: "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off,,,,There is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether" (Psalm 139:1-2, 4)

God knows my doubts and skepticisms. He knows when my faith lags. He knows my anger, my sorrow, my discouragement. So I may as well be honest with Him. That is a pure heart in which is no deceit or guile.

And the good thing is that He loves and accepts me anyway and says, "Follow Me." He knows what I will become because I am honest enough to face my weakness.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). He can so His work with people who are honest in their hearts with Him.

Love, Dad