Pure in Heart

Check out Stephen.

Stephen had a place of leadership within the early church, was full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit, and was always doing miracles. The religious leaders were eaten up with jealousy; they couldn't stand this man, but there was no fault they could find to convict him of. Finally, after the bribery of some sketchy characters, they arrested him under false charges.

When given the chance to defend himself, Stephen began to chronicle Israel's history. I can just picture the religious leaders scratching their heads and wondering, where is this going? It seems his only motive is to lead up to the gospel message, and beginning this way establishes some credibility.

I am like you.
We share our roots.

And so his listeners followed along for most of the speech. He spoke of God's plan to redeem Israel and  how the people were ungrateful and turned to other gods. Then! Stephen turned on them and said: this is you. YOU are proud, YOU are stubborn and YOU reject the Messiah.

I guess it is much the same as Peter's speech a few chapters earlier. But instead of weeping and saying, "what have we done?" the people covered their ears and began to stone Stephen.

But Stephen saw God.

Heaven opened and he saw his Savior, and he had peace. Don't miss this! Jesus promised, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Stephen's heart was untainted by the fear of men. He did not love his life so much as to shrink back from death.

It is not the seeker-sensitive who are blessed.
It is not the eloquent or persuasive who are blessed.
It is not even the bold who are blessed.

It is those whose hearts have been purified, that they desire to please God rather than men. They will see God.

Lord, give me a pure heart.