14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] [k]I
This really resonated with me today. We get so caught up in our own vision of what is good and bad, and how bad you are compared to me....we lose sight of what God is looking at.
If there is 1 thing that has stuck with me, from reading through all these chapters over the last couple of years....its the thought that I need to be constantly thinking about God's view. Not mine. What is his will in the situation? What would he say here. Its such a different mindset for me to think about. I think you can go to church every week; be on the church board; pray every day; on the outside be doing everything according to the world view of a Christian....and completely miss it. That really startles me. I fall into that trap over and over. I need to keep reminding myself what he wants. Would he care if I get one more promotion before I retire? Would he care if I remodel my kitchen? OR Does he care that I have extra on my table every night. Does he care that I have an extra bed in my basement that nobody ever sleeps in. Does he care that my neighbors don't know him. What breaks his heart? Does it break mine?
The things that seem so important to me suddenly seem so hollow.
Sorry, went off the rails for a second there....
I noticed a couple of stories today, that were also written in Matthew. We say it over and over, but the consistency of what is written is very inspiring and validating.
tp
keep rolling, I will catch up. I keep having too many morning meetings or late nights causing me to miss my 530am time but I will catch up.
ReplyDeleteGood take today, I think I absolutely fall into the pharisee trap. I don't think I do so much judging of others like they maybe do....well maybe its just that I don't verbalize it but maybe I do think my judgment. I probably do plenty of checking the box on I am Christian, there now I can sleep well.
19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) 20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them.
its a heart thing. so while goes into the body doesn't defile the heart it seems things that we allow into our minds can impact our heart. If I get involved in political discussions and allow myself to get riled up by someone with a counter view and then I spew some cutting commentary from my mouth am I also exercising my heart into a hardened and crusty piece building malice in it? Alternatively if I engage in loving others, doe the exercising in this manner and the positive feelings I get of helping others build a heart that desires even more opportunities to love others?
rambling unorganize thoughts but the reading and your post took me down a path I didn't see coming.
knut