DEVOTION – DAY 432

Mark 7:20-23 “Impure Hearts”

Mark 7:20-23: “He went on, “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Jesus replaced the normal Jewish understanding of defilement with the truth, that defilement comes from an impure heart, not out of a failure to keep certain rules of conduct. Our relationship with God is not broken because of a failure to follow cleansing rules. Or to avoid eating forbidden food. Our relationships with God are broken because of our sins. We commit sins because of our sinful nature. 

Today, many people still think that if they follow a set of rules and stay away from certain forbidden foods, they would be acceptable by God. Muslims think that if they pray five times a day, go to Mecca for pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime, they will be okay with God. If they avoid taking pork and pork products, and if they give to the poor, they will be okay with God. Hindus think that if they avoid beef, their idols will not judge them for the cow is sacred in their beliefs. Strict Buddhists are vegetarian thinking that this would bring them better karma. But the Bible reminds us that keeping to a set of rules does not make us clean or unclean. What makes us unclean comes from within us – it comes from an impure heart.

Bo Xilai was born in 1949. He was the son of a prominent leader, Bo YiBo, of the Communist Party. Bo YiBo helped shaped his son, Xilai’s entry into the Communist Party, and his subsequent rise to power. He was major of Dalian for 7 years where he caught the attention of many. He also became governor of Liaoning province. He cultivated a reputation for being a clean politician. He was even became the Minister of Commerce. He was then sent to Chongqing to turn the city around. He launched a war against organized crime and corruption. On the surface, he was a model politician. But quietly, through corruption, he had secretly amassed a great fortune. He had his fortune sent abroad through the help of an intermediary Neil Heywood. All went well until a dispute arose between Bo Xilai’s wife, Gu Kailai, and Neil Heywood, over higher commission for his services. Neil Heywood threatened to expose Bo Xilai’s overseas assets. Neil Heywood died mysteriously in a Chongqing hotel room. His death was later traced to the involvement of Gu Kailai. Investigations into Heywood’s death also implicated Bo Xilai. He and his wife were arrested and sentenced in 2012. Bo Xilai lost all his powerful positions and his assets were seized. Outwardly, he and his wife were powerful, influential and seemed to do all the right things. But inwardly, they had proven to be corrupted, even resorting to murder.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the reminder that our sinful nature comes from within our impure hearts. Please forgive us for our sins and please help us to obey and follow the Lord Jesus always. We pray this in the gracious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

1. What outward things or actions do people try to observe that they think will make them right in God’s sight? Discuss.
2. Since it is from a person’s heart that impure thoughts and actions spring from, how can they cleanse their heart and mind? Read John 3:16; Romans 12:2. Discuss.
3. Why do people keep thinking that if they are able to keep to a set of rules, they would be acceptable by God? Discuss. Why is this foolish thinking?