by David Brenneman
"After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” Mark 7:14-23.
In and of ourselves our hearts cannot be trusted. Having the mind of Christ is what reigns in the heart.
Our sin nature is extremely devious.
Our sin nature will lie to us, tell us things to make our walk with Jesus far more difficult.
We can and do provoke it at times with those things we desire. Those things we listen to and watch can often fan its flame.
Look at what Jesus just said and now look at what Paul said to Timothy.
"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
And further, the Apostle Peter. "Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts," 2 Peter 3:3.
King David had this to say: "Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass And fade like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land."
Reading that from King David you might also see echoes of what Paul would later write.
What fills your heart? Is it important to you to grow in Christ?
Is walking with Jesus with your whole heart important to you?
Either Jesus is in the driver's seat or you are. Either we run the race set before us with the aim being the prize at the end in Christ or we aren't.
The writer of Hebrews wrote concerning sins that easily entangle in Chapter 12 verse 1.
Paul wrote this to Timothy and all of us: "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." 2 Timothy 2:3-7.
Are our eyes focused on what's in front of us in any given moment or are we looking forward to our face-to-face with Jesus?
If what you've got going on in your life, those things and situations that you embrace so closely to your heart, were to be your last moments on the Earth would you be embarrassed by these before Jesus?
Are you cultivating a relationship with Jesus or your desires?
Our desires are often sensory motivated. Way more than you think. Smells can trigger powerful emotions to drive you to either eat or be repulsed by eating. Sounds can drive you to potentially enjoyable activities or away from them. A touch can either bring comfort or anger. Hunger can actually blind us to further dangers ahead. HALT. If you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired...you are in danger of going headlong down a slippery slope to sinning.
“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds." Jeremiah 17:9-10.
My Dear Reader, you must choose daily who is the object of worship in your life. You or Jesus. It actually didn't dawn on me until now that the passage I just copied was entirely one statement from Jesus. The quotes were already there.
Pray that your eyes would be opened as to what the Spirit is trying to get you to clear out of your heart. Take great care to watch your thoughts and feelings to see if you're going to glorify God or yourself. Paul said to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus.
Would you recognize those attributes Jesus mentioned or Paul mentioned in your life? Would you recognize and understand what idolatry is? Would you recognize anything else that the Spirit says is sin?
If we can be satisfied with saying "Oh that's not that bad" rather than to ask the Spirit if it is first...we're in trouble. Our understand of what's good and acceptable absolutely are not what the Bible says is good and acceptable. If ours was as good and acceptable as we think then Jesus died needlessly.
As the prophet Haggai wrote twice at the beginning of that book "Consider your ways!".
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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