YOUR ACTIONS WILL FLOW FROM A CLEANSED HEART

“And He aid, ‘what comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from with, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. Al these evil things come from within and defile a man.”—Mark 7:20-23

 

The outward appearance of a person is not important.  It is the condition of a person’s heart that matters to God.  However, mankind has not always understood this.  The covenant of circumcision was give to Abram in Genesis 17:9-14.  God said that any man who did not carry this sign of the covenant in his flesh was to be killed.  This placed a great importance on the act of circumcision.  The Apostle Paul tells us that Abraham had already been justified by faith before he was circumcised, in Romans 4:3-13.  Abram’s faith in God and His promise saved him at least thirteen years before He commanded Abram to be circumcised.

 

Down through the centuries, the Jews turned their focus to the outward act of circumcision instead of the inward act of faith as the reason for salvation.  This, too, was a source of contention between Jesus and the religious leaders.  They emphasized all the outward acts the Lord had commanded and were totally disregarding the condition of their hearts.  Jesus said that if an individual would cleanse their heart, their actions would inevitably change too. 

 

The condition of a person’s flesh is not the important thing.  God is interested in a person’s heart, not if their flesh has been circumcised or not.  Today, the religious questions center around the doctrine of water baptism, church membership, and other outward acts that some preach are necessary for salvation. 

 

Your faith in the love of God, as expressed through Jesus on the Cross and in His resurrection is the only thing God demands for your justification.  Religious rites mean nothing when it comes to salvation.  Your heart is what matters to God.  You can rejoice today that your heart safely trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that my heart is right with You and because it is out of the abundance of my heart my mouth will utter things that are pleasing to You, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.