The Heart of the Matter

In Mark 7:14-23 Jesus deals with the problem of those who believe that external things are the main thing in relation to God and personal holiness. In summary, He teaches them that it is not what comes INTO a person from outside that defiles them or makes them common in contrast to holy, but it is what comes from WITHIN them, out of the HEART, that defiles them. He then gives a frightening list of the kinds of things that have their source in the heart.

What are we to learn from this teaching? Here are a few:

• Our hearts are SIN-FACTORIES, and the production level is always high.
• We tend to think too highly of ourselves. We tend to think we are more godly, more committed, more mature than we are.
• Within our hearts is the potential for EVERY sin known to man. Within OUR hearts, not just the heart of the gang member or the terrorist or the crooked politician are the roots of such things as thievery, adultery, murder, deceit, slander, and endless foolishness.
• We can think that bad examples, bad environments, evil people, and tempting situations are the real source of our sin, but Jesus says it is our HEART. If our focus on change is addressed anywhere else but our hearts FIRST of all, we are barking up the wrong tree for transformation. Of course our environment and associations have an impact, a strong impact, but the point is WITHOUT any of these, WITHOUT a personal devil whose goal is to bring us down, there is enough evil in our hearts to drag us into hell WITHOUT the aid of any of these others.
• If we think our children are just naughty, stubborn, and immature and that this is why they are so difficult at times, we are not grasping the utter wickedness that is bound up in their hearts. Foolishness, devilish foolishness, is bound up in their hearts (Proverbs 22:15).

It is clear, efforts for real and lasting change must focus on the heart. But how is the heart to be changed?

• Realize that WE CANNOT change our hearts. We don't even know them! Jeremiah 17:9,10.
• But God CAN, WILL, and DELIGHTS to change our hearts through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17
• We must cry out to God to show us our hearts and what is in them so that we do not overestimate our supposed holiness, Psalm 139:23-24
• The Holy Spirit brings about and sustains real heart change: Ezekiel 36:26,27. We must ask for His help specifically and often, Luke 11:13
• The MOTIVE for heart change must be the Lord Jesus Christ: knowing Him and drawing closer to Him, John 17:3
• The WORD OF GOD has a transforming effect on the heart, Psalm 19:7f
• Pray Psalm 51:1-12 often for heart change.
• Discipline in all of life is needed for heart change, Proverbs 4:23-27
• God uses GODLY FELLOWSHIP to change and keep our hearts, Hebrews 3:12-13.

May the Lord who knows and changes hearts give you a heart ravenous for His ways.