Title: “The Pure in Heart See God.”

Everyone wants to be seen – to be heard – to be valued. I’m no different. Those innate cravings are as much in me as they are in you. But what do we do with those feelings? Do I let those create selfish ambitions within me or do I allow them, by the power of Jesus, to give me vision to see others the way I want to be seen, and even more, the way Jesus chooses to see me. To really listen when people speak. To see value by looking past the muck.

I remember when I took this photo. I had snuck off on a back road by myself and gotten lost a little and I saw this tree from a distance. I had to get closer. When I did I realized there were imperfections everywhere. Some of the leaves were crushed, some of the fruit had fallen to the ground, some of the limbs hung a little slant…but the beauty of what still was left me awed. Jesus helped me see. Even amidst the un-doneness it was breathtaking to me. The photo does its beauty no justice. Who knew in the middle of nowhere something so beautiful lay hidden? It wasn’t a fine, perfect, gold laid castle…it was a simple, in some areas mangled, fruit tree. Who cares about a fruit tree?! But for that moment, for me, because the Lord gave me eyes to see, that fruit tree was SEEN. It was HEARD. It was VALUED. For all it’s worth. 

I want to do that with people. I want to see past the imperfections and pull out their value. Not ignoring those things, but also not binding people to them. When I get closer to people and realize their leaves are smooshed and their branches are drooping and they aren’t all put together – I want to, even then, see Jesus. I want to see the birthing place for a miracle. I want to see the value God has placed in them. And I can. You can. We can. 

So, in your craving to be seen, ask the Lord to help you go “see” someone well. In your craving to be heard, ask the Lord to help you go “listen” to someone well. Find the beauty Jesus put in their mess and call it out! Let’s let Jesus give us a pure heart so we can see well!