Don’t Let Your Nose Grow

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God”
(Matthew 5:8)

Pinocchio is known for his nose growing when he tells a lie. Pinocchio is confronted when he is locked in a bird cage, he is asked why he did not go to school that day. He starts by saying a small lie suddenly his nose gets bigger and bigger while he continues to add on more lies. We are not like Pinocchio are noses do not grow when we lie but, are actions are determined by our hearts.

Our actions and heart are connected and contribute to how we live our lives. Jesus does not challenge us to change our actions in this verse. Often, we try and change our behavior thinking that alone will change us however, our heart must be changed first for a real change to take place. Our heart shows us what we desire. If we truly desire to donate to charity, the desire must be in our heart first. When we give and the desire is not in our hearts, we feel the sting of every dollar leaving our account. We continue to talk about what that money could have been used for instead. We watch the money leave our account with pain and not joy that it is going to benefit a good cause. The heart must first be changed for true behavior to be changed. Jesus wants our hearts to genuinely desire things that are pleasing to Him.

When we desire things that are pleasing to Jesus it reflects in our lives, and we produce things that are pleasing to Him. If we desire honesty, we learn to tell the truth even when it is hard or can affect us and our relationships. It leads us not to tell lies even if it would be easier. To know what Jesus’ desires we must first desire a relationship with Him. When we commit to follow Jesus, he begins a transformation within our hearts. This transformation changes what we care about and our desires.
 
Heavenly Father, purify my heart from wrong desires and selfishness. Help me to have pure intentions each day.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins