GOD is more concerned with why than what...

we are looking at this matter of happiness, where does it come from, how do i get it, how can i keep it? but for so many of us we are looking for happiness in the wrong places and the reality of our search is futile.

now we have been looking at some verses in the beginning of one of JESUS’ great messages. HE started this sermon on the mount with the subject of happiness. we are now going to look at verse 8 of matthew 5.

americans are increasingly concerned with purity. we want to drink pure water. we want to breathe pure air. we want to eat pure foods.

i read that there is a company that will, from fees ranging from 3,000 to 15,000 dollars come and do an analysis on why your house stinks so you can have pure air in your house. another article says last year americans spent over half a billion dollars on water purifiers.

now as important as clean air, pure water and pure food are, there is a sense of purity that americans tend to overlook. matthew 5.8 (niv), blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see GOD.

happiness is a heart condition. it's not what goes inside you, it's what comes out. happiness is from the inside out.

so what does pure in heart mean? it means unmixed motives. you are a person of integrity. you don't say one thing and act another way. your motives are true.

listen, GOD is concerned with why we do things as much as HE's concerned with what we do. HE's concerned with our motives.

just a thought from the front porch…