Mark 7:14-15
“Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.””
Mark 7:14-15 NIV
Our words and our actions say it all, don't they? So let's take seriously our use of language, both what we say and how we say it. Let's also look at our lives and see what our actions say about our loyalty to God. We need to realize that our intentions matter for good only if we follow through on them. Repentance that is only a change of heart, but not also a change of behavior, is not really repentance at all.
Outward appearances mask the genuine nature of a person. We cannot go by what we see to know one’s spiritual condition. How people dress, behave on Sunday, and speak are only outward signs and do not show the true spirituality of a person.
The actual nature of a person is buried deep within one’s heart. This heart is not the beating blood pump, it is one’s true nature that will prevent or permit one to do certain things.
Jesus knows the real heart of a person. He is the expert on the condition of man, and He tells us that nothing outside one’s body can contaminate the mindset of a person. Eating certain foods, downing intoxicating drinks, and other outside enticements do not defile anyone.
In the case of foods and drinks, they go in and later are dismissed from the body. It is the condition of the heart that allows for any improper behavior. It is the deep, private crevices of one’s mind that are not bothered by partaking of anything inappropriate or the commission of any sin that allows any defilement.
Hear Jesus and understand that sin comes from within and defiles us. And religious rituals cannot wash us clean.
Evil thoughts do not come out of a poor education, they come out of the heart of man. Sexual immorality does not come out of our sex obsessed culture, it comes out of the heart of man. Theft does not come out of desperate circumstances, it comes out of the heart of man.
A hesitancy to touch your Bible after viewing pornography, a coldness in prayer after covetous daydreaming, a shyness in singing after shouting at your kids on the way to church these are sensations of the real defilement our sin causes.
No amount of hand-washing could cleanse the Jews of the deceit oozing out of their hearts. No matter how clean their diet, they remained defiled by their sensuality. In the same way, no amount of church attendance can cleanse us from envy. Morning quiet times can’t wash away our slander. Listening to Christian music cannot remove the defilement caused by our pride.
Let us distinctly understand, when we read these words, that our Lord is speaking of the human heart generally. He is not speaking only of the notorious profligate, or the prisoner in the jail. He is speaking of all mankind. All of us, whether high or low, rich or poor, masters or servants, old or young, learned or unlearned, all of us have by nature such a heart as Jesus here describes.
The seeds of all the evils here mentioned lie hidden within us all. They may lie dormant all our lives. They may be kept down by the fear of consequences, the restraint of public opinion, the dread of discovery, the desire to be thought respectable and, above all, by the almighty grace of God. But every man has within him the root of every sin.
How watchful we ought to be, when we remember these verses. What a careful guard we ought to keep over our imaginations, our tongues, and our daily behavior. At the head of the black list of our heart's contents, stand evil thoughts. Let us never forget that. Thoughts are the parents of words and deeds. Let us pray daily for grace to keep our thoughts in order, and let us cry earnestly and fervently, lead us not into temptation.
Only the blood of Christ purifies our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Only the blood of Christ gives us confidence to draw near to God with true hearts!!!
Father thank You for this day and for the strength and grace to walk in it. Lord let Your abundant blessings fall upon my friend and family today from the windows of heaven. Lord thank You that by the power of Your Spirit we can change our behavior and our values to reflect Your Holiness, grace, mercy, and righteousness more perfectly. Lord You Who searches minds and hearts, may the words of our mouths and the thoughts of our hearts be pleasing to You. Lord we offer You our inner world to cleanse and redecorate by the sanctifying work of Your Holy Spirit. Lord guard our hearts from evil ambitions and our minds from impure thoughts. Lord use my friend to be the light of Your Word to all today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
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