PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 7:14-23
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“It is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come.” (Mark 7:21)
The heart was seen as the spiritual center of a person, the command center in me.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Why then are there so many laws about clean and unclean, focusing on externals?
I can only guess, but as I see it, God was training the people to be discerning.
The lesson behind these rules was that not all things are good for you.
The things that God approves of are good; the things the world approves of are not.
Stay on the path that God leads you on, and don’t do the things God speaks against.
Through these many laws, the people came to see themselves as holy, set apart, following God.
The deeper issue is our unclean hearts, prone to unloving, unholy thoughts.
The things Jesus lists are all contrary to the Law of Love, how we should treat others in love.
This has always been God’s primary concern; the laws were pointers in that direction.
So what are the thoughts coming out of me, how do I discern the cleanliness of my heart?
This is where Jesus wants to work with me, to help me clean up my heart within.
How much time do you spend with Jesus discerning the thoughts coming from your heart?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to pay attention to the thoughts of my heart, and to see where they are leading to unhealthy habits and behaviours. By your Spirit, generate love, joy, peace, etc. within me.
“All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Yes, it is true for me – my mind can conjure up many things that are bad. I’m sometimes plagued with bad thoughts/dreams – which are abusive of others and wrong. It’s like an evil spirit – and I pray to have these thoughts cast out – sometimes they linger too long. I am thankful that I ‘catch’ myself or probably more true, the HS helps me recognize and deal with it. What Jesus said is true – even by looking with wrong thoughts I commit a sin – adultery or abuse of some sort. Lord, help me have a clean heart and never let me act on any of these negative thoughts!
My words and deeds define me. They are the root issue since they all come my heart. The heart not only gives life through the blood but also the heart directs my life. From the heart come the issues of life. The heart is the root of the direction of my life. Christ needs to take residence there and direct my daily steps so that others see that I am His and He is mine.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a right spirit within me.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence;
Take not Thy holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation;
And renew a right spirit within me.