Dear COA Family,
A colorectal surgeon friend once told me, “I can’t believe how accurate Jesus’ words are. He knew about the human body way before modern biology found out about it.
You see, the human body is like a large channel: food enters our body through our mouth, then is pushed through our esophagus into our stomach, gets digested in our small Intestine, broken down in our large Intestine, stored in our rectum, and is finally passed out through our anus!”
What he was referring to were Jesus’ teachings in a parable to his disciples:
“Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them… For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.”
He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” (Mark 7:14-23)
What Jesus is saying is that our hearts are what matter. Or rather, it is the state of our hearts that counts. We may face temptations in our lives, but they will not defile us if we keep our hearts from falling into thoughts and desires of sexual immorality, adultery, or greed.
We may encounter difficult or trying circumstances in our lives, but they will not derail us if we keep our hearts from being trapped by hate, malice, or envy.
We may even be praised or elevated by others, but they will not deceive us if we keep our hearts from being enamoured by pride, arrogance or folly.
All that happens to us externally will not determine our standing with God because they are outside of us. Rather, it is how we choose to think about them and respond to them that matters. These are the things that can defile us or set us on the right path. And all of our thoughts and responses flow from the state of our hearts.
It is no wonder that Proverbs tells us: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Today, we can choose to keep ourselves from being defiled. We can set our hearts on things above, where Christ is. (Colossians 3:1) By delighting ourselves in the Lord, we remain within the will and purpose of God for our lives and keep ourselves from falling into the clutches of sin and sinful behaviours. This will, in turn, save us from much hurt and grief later on, and also bring about eternal salvation for our lives.
God bless,
Revd Ian