Mark 7:20-23 - And then he added, “It is the thought-life that pollutes. For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil
thoughts of lust, theft, murder, adultery, wanting what belongs to
others, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, and all other
folly. All these vile things come from within; they are what pollute you and
make you unfit for God.”
Jesus had been approached by some of the
religious leaders that wanted to trap him.
They didn’t get what they bargained for in Jesus’ answer to their questions.
Instead of evidence to use for Jesus’ death…Jesus heaped fuel on His
accusations of them being hypocrites….chiding them for adding so many extra
rules to the laws that Moses was given.
Jesus explained it even deeper when He was
alone with the disciples later. He spoke
of how evil gets a foot hold into our lives with our thoughts. Paul wrote in
Galatians 5:16-18…. “But I
say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the
desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are
against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from
doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the
law.”
It is a reminder
to me to guard my thoughts and try to live by the Spirit He gave me when He saved
me at all times. One thought that is against His will multiply into enough to
keep me from it if I let that one thought pollute what I know by scripture to
be right. I must constantly fight against the will of the flesh if I am to do
what God requires and keep my eyes only on Him. And the best way to win the
battle is to make sure I always have God’s best interest in mind when I make a
choice.
Father…thank you
for the reminder that my thoughts need to be as pure as my life. Forgive me for the times I have allowed my
spirit to be polluted by coveting….selfishness….and greed. Help me to strengthen the Spirit that you
gave me to fight for me by studying and praying even more. Amen.
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