In Mark 7:21-23 Jesus shares a truth that helps us understand our lives. He says, "For from within, out of the heart of man, comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
Jesus shared these words in answer to the religious rulers of His day who were complaining that Jesus' disciples didn't wash their hands before they ate. Jesus' answer to them makes it clear that the central issue of life is our heart (that which is within) not something external. If our focus needs to be anywhere it needs to be the heart, because we tend to live out of our hearts.
Joseph's brothers lived out of their hearts. When Joseph's father favored him with the coat of many colors, his brothers' hearts were filled with jealousy. When he told them of his dreams which suggested they would one day bow before him, his brothers' hearts were filled with pride and hatred. So, filled with pride, hatred and jealousy, Joseph's brother acted out of their hearts which led them to throw their brother in a pit and later sell him as a slave.
The religious rulers of Jesus' day acted out of their hearts. They were filled with pride in their law keeping (though as Jesus points out they had created their own laws some of which cancelled out God's commands) and in their position as rulers of the religion. But when Jesus began to bring in doubt regarding their teaching and when the crowds began to follow Him, their hearts were filled with jealousy. They, too, like Joseph's brother sought to do Him harm in the end. They were living out of the heart.
Job, too, lived out of his heart. In Job 3 we hear his words - his cursing the day he was born. The obvious conclusion we take from his speech is that his heart was full of despair. So hard were his life circumstances that his heart was flooded with despair and anguish, and he spoke out of those things which filled his heart.
On the positive side (after all the heart can be filled with graces as well) is the example of the Syrophoenician woman. Jesus just about calls her a dog (is it right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs...), but she responds in a way that would blow most of us away. She says, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Her words evidence a heart that is filled with humility and respect for the Lord Jesus. She spoke from what filled her heart, and in this case was rewarded by the Lord who fulfilled her request.
Today, as we live out our day, let us be mindful that we live out of our heart. Be heart aware! When we are talking with our spouse, or child or irritating colleague at work let us consider what is controlling our heart, what fills our heart. Will it be as Paul puts it in Romans 7, the law of sin and death, or the law of the Spirit and life? As Christians we have been united with Christ. He wants to be filling our hearts with His grace and love, and when that is what is filling our heart, our words and actions will be glorifying to God and uplifting to others.
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