The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Mark 7:14-15,
"Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him "unclean" by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him "unclean."'"
Jesus expressed his compassion on those he came into contact with by healing them of sickness and infirmity. He cast out evil spirits and provided food for the hungry. He taught people and touched their lives at their point of need.
Here in this passage Jesus speaks to our greatest need. We have a problem with our hearts. He says a few verses later, "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"
Jesus continues today to express his compassion toward us by meeting us at our greatest need. Our hearts are desperately infirm and need his touch! We are told by Paul that the Lord makes a new creation of us, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Through the Holy Spirit he changes us from within. These hearts of ours are being changed such that instead of the above we find the fruit of the Spirit developing "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. In Hebrews 12:10-11 we read, "Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
For those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, he is touching our lives… every day!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him "unclean" by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him "unclean."'"
Jesus expressed his compassion on those he came into contact with by healing them of sickness and infirmity. He cast out evil spirits and provided food for the hungry. He taught people and touched their lives at their point of need.
Here in this passage Jesus speaks to our greatest need. We have a problem with our hearts. He says a few verses later, "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"
Jesus continues today to express his compassion toward us by meeting us at our greatest need. Our hearts are desperately infirm and need his touch! We are told by Paul that the Lord makes a new creation of us, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Through the Holy Spirit he changes us from within. These hearts of ours are being changed such that instead of the above we find the fruit of the Spirit developing "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. In Hebrews 12:10-11 we read, "Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
For those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, he is touching our lives… every day!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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