February 27: Numbers 21-23; Mark 6-7

In My Heart

Scripture: Mark (NIV) 7:20 He (Jesus) went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean’.
21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
23 All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’."

Observation: The disciples had been accused for eating with unclean hands because they had not washed their hands before eating. In these verses Jesus is explaining to His disciples what really makes a person unclean.

Application: My problem is not in the world, it is in my heart. The Victor over sin becomes the Forgiver of my sins and takes up residence within my heart as my Helper against sin. He sharpens my conscience to an acute awareness of sin and gives me strength to resist temptation. He imparts His hatred for sin within me yet He forgives and restores me when I fall. He uses His Word to build a strong wall of defense against sin and implants His Word in my memory banks to use as arrows against temptation. He makes my heart a fortress that is both holy and wholly for Him! In the center of the fortress is a fountain of praise in honor of this Victor. My heart becomes a base from which the Holy Spirit can direct my words and deeds. People coming through the gate of this fortress meet Jesus!

Prayer: Lord, like I learned to sing as a child, “Into my heart, into my heart, Come into my heart Lord Jesus. Come in today, come in to stay, come into my heart Lord Jesus.” Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!