The following blog entry is compliments of Pastor Leon Hiebert, Community Care Pastor of Generations Church, Andover, KS.
Scripture: Matthew 15:18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean’.
19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
20 These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean’.”
Observation: Now here is a verse (20) I could have used as a 5-6 year old boy whose mom was always telling him to wash his hands before eating! J I do not recall my Sunday School teacher ever telling me to memorize this one.
Uncleanness is a heart matter. Unclean thoughts may enter through the eye gate or the ear gate, but it is in the heart that they are accepted and reviewed and reviewed again, and reviewed again until a plan of action is worked out in the mind. Maybe the plan never gets put into action, but the issue can remain in the heart. Forgiveness is the detergent for cleaning the heart: asking God to forgive me and me forgiving others.
Application: I must rule my private life if I am ever to rule my public life. It is not just politicians who can be embarrassed when their private words are heard in public. The public may get a glimpse inside but God always sees my heart. Living in an immoral world, I must continually guard my heart. I may not be able to keep evil from entering my eye or ear gates, but with the presence of the Lord in my life and His help, and by thinking on the good things God has brought to me, I can stop evil from getting settled in my heart.
Prayer: Lord, let my heart be full of you. May your will be done in my heart as it is in heaven. Amen.
Instructions For Life According to Jesus Christ 