Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a [person] can make [that person] ‘unclean’ by going into [the person]. Rather, it is what comes out of [the person] that makes him [her] ‘unclean’ . . . He went on: “What comes out of a [person] is what makes [the person] ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of [our] 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 [person] ‘unclean.’ ‘ ” Mark 7″ 14, 20, KJV.
Blessed LORD, here we are again in Your holy presence! How we need You to teach us Your way, as we study Your Word. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Today let us continue with a portion of our key text used in yesterday’s devotional, Matthew 5: 45-48, “that you may be sons [and daughters] of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Emphasis provided.
Why do we do what we do? I believe that this is a very helpful question to ask ourselves, as Christians. Jesus condemned the Pharisees’ motives. They did what they did, to be “seen” of others. We commented on some of the ill-effects such behavior could have on the individual (see devotional for July 16). Today we want to look on the reason Jesus gave for resisting the evil within: that we may be the children of our Heavenly Father. Why is that so important? Because motives are important to God!
When we read passages of Scripture such as this one: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13: 1-3, emphasis provided), we realize that in God’s eyes, it is not as much the act, as it is, the heart.
Again we find the following combination of outward piety, and inward perversion: ” ‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers’ ” (Matthew 7: 15-23).
This kind of behavior is not found only in the church, among the laity. It is found in the pulpit as well. But it can also be found in the market place, in the classroom, in law firms, on the bus, on the farm, on the street. It can be found anywhere there are human beings. Sacred Scripture reminds us that, sooner or later, the real deal will be revealed. How much better to allow God to rid us of the evil within, today, while there is still time to repent – than to come to the throne of God, when it is too late, and hear the sad words: “I never knew you!”
Everything we do should be done because we love God. It is the reason Jesus wants us to obey Him (John 14: 15). It is the sign that we are His followers (John 13: 35). Today He reminds us, that it is also a distinguishing mark that we are children of our “Father in heaven.”
May God give us grace to resist the evil within, for His honor and glory!