DEVOTION – DAY 499

Mark 7:20-23 “The Sin Within”

Mark 7:20-23 “He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him unclean. For from within, out of men’s 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 man unclean.”

Jews traditionally thought that they would become defiled if they ate the wrong food, or if they failed to observe certain religious rituals, or if they had touched anything considered as “uncleaned.” But Jesus corrected them in the above verses by telling the people that defilement comes from an impure heart. It had nothing to do with violating a set of prescribed rules and regulations. Our fellowship with God is not broken because of unclean hands or foods, but because of sin in our lives. Some of the sins were set out in these verses. 

Today, many people still make the same mistake. People think that if they go for pilgrimages, pray five times a day, it would please their God. People think that if they eat kosher or halal food, it would maintain their cleanliness before God. Some people avoid eating pork, some avoid eating beef, some only eat vegetarian food for the same reasons. Others think that if they do enough charitable works, they will end up pleasing God and God would overlook their sins. But God is a Just and Holy God and He would not be God, if He were to simply “overlook” sins. And the problem of sin is real because it is deeply embedded in everyone’s hearts. Without needing to be taught, infants automatically know how to be angry or jealous. 

For example, Ravi Zacharias was a well know evangelist and Christian apologist. He wrote many books and was a sought-after speaker. He founded a Christian organization called RZIM. He was someone that was much admired in the Christian community, because he always defended his faith well especially against people of different faiths and beliefs.

However, after his death a few years ago, allegations about gross misconduct by him surfaced. The allegations grew and could not be ignored. RZIM, the organization Ravi had founded, engaged an independent study into these allegations. The findings showed that the allegations were true. Ravi had been leading a double life. Publicly, he had seemed to do what was expected of a prominent Christian. But privately, he had been guilty of sexual misconduct and abuse of his position. He was an example of someone whose heart was not right with God, and that hid a sinful hidden lifestyle. Outward shows of faith were for public consumption. Let us be warned against such a kind of double lifestyle.  

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, please help us to guard our hearts against all kinds of depravity. Please help us to be rooted in You and Your Word so that we can guard our hearts and minds from desires of the flesh and the world. We humbly pray in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. What are some ways that people think would help them appear acceptable in God’s eyes? Discuss. 
  2. It is not outward acts of piety that counts but what is within our hearts that matters before God. Do you agree? Discuss.
  3. How can you safeguard your heart against temptations and desires of the flesh? Discuss.
  4. How have you fled from temptations and desires of the flesh in the past? Share.