Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  – Matthew 5:8

The media loves to report on fallen ministers.  I just saw one this past week where the minister didn’t even do anything wrong, but his son did.  There are many who read these stories and apply the wrongdoing to all ministers.  You will see comments like, “There is another one,” or “Too bad all these so-called preachers are like this.”  If I didn’t want to follow Jesus, God, or the Bible, I too would use things like this as fuel to keep me from feeling that yielding myself to God was necessary before I die.  Jesus said that the pure in heart exist, I’d rather focus on them and try with all my heart to be one of them.

I heard one of the best answers I’ve ever heard on situations like this earlier this year.  Someone asked a preacher, “What do you think of all these ministers in the news with all this junk on their computers, sleeping around, and stealing all this money?”  He merely responded, “Planes that land safely don’t get reported.”  He went on to describe many wonderful things specific pastors and groups of people were doing in the name of Jesus.  We don’t hear of those because those headlines don’t get clicks.  

I want to encourage you (and mostly me) to keep following Jesus.  It seems like time has sped up.  I remember when I was a kid that we would all say that time drags on by.  Even the kids in my classes today say that time is flying by.  I don’t know what the deal is, but it more than likely has to do with social media, games, and never being disconnected from a steady stream of content tailored by algorithms to make you never think about God or eternity.

Lord, help me be one of the planes that land safely.  I don’t need recognition.  There were times in my life where I craved it, but now I simply seek to have a pure heart.  I want to spend eternity with You.  While I’m here, help me live for You and tell as many others about You as I can.  I pray for everyone who reads this today.  Lift them up and let them feel Your presence and realize there is nothing and no one greater than You.  There isn’t even a close second.  Amen.