Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 17
Monday


INSIDE OUT

READ:
Mark 7:9-23
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Out of the heart of men
proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications,
murders, thefts,
covetousness,
wickedness, deceit,....
blasphemy, pride,
foolishness.
__Mark 7:21-22
___________________________________

Shopping for a melon is a tough assignment. No matter how good it looks, it's hard to tell! So I tap it, thump it, and, if no one is looking, squeeze it--and then take it home, only to discover that it's bad on the inside.

When the Pharisees were irritated that Jesus' disciples did not wash their hands before eating-a violation of one of their traditions--Jesus immediately challenged them. "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition" (Mark 7:9). He even called them "hypocrites" and explained that what comes from the inside of a person is what "defiles" him, not the other way around.

If we're not careful, we can become absorbed with looking good on the outside and forget what really counts. In fact, when we get to the place where we are keeping all the "right" rules, we may become proud of ourselves and judgmental toward others. But harboring bitterness, clinging to critical attitudes, and thinking too highly of ourselves are the kind of defiling stuff that make us guilty of Jesus' charge of "hypocrite."

So don't miss the point. Remember, it's the things on the inside--your heart, your thoughts, your attitudes--that really matter. __Joe Stowell
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`````````More of Joe stowell's devotional material on hypocrisy ```````
````````is available on the Web. Check out "The Truth for Jesus'```````
``````````Sake"
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What matters to jesus
is what's on the inside.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Mark 7:9-23**************

9 He said to them, "All too
well you reject the
commandment of God, that
you may keep your tradition.

10 For Moses said, 'Honor
your father and your mother';
and, 'He who curses father or
mother, let him be put to
death.' 11 But you say, 'If a
man says to his father or
mother, "Whatever profit you
might have received from me
is Corban"__' (that is, a gift
to God), 12 then you no
longer let him do anything
for his father or his mother,

13 making the word of God of
no effect through your
tradition which you have
handed down. And many
such things you do....

15 "There is nothing that
enters a man from outside
which can defile him; but the
things which come out of
him, those are the things that
defile a man. 16 If anyone has
ears to hear, let him hear!"

17 When He had entered a
house away from the crowd,
His disciples asked Him
concerning the parable. 18 So
He said to them, "Are you
thus without understanding
also? Do you not perceive
that whatever enters a man
from outside cannot defile
him, 19 because it does not
enter his heart but his
stomach, and is eliminated,
thus purifying all foods?"

20 and He said, "What comes
out of a man, that defiles a
man. 21 For from within, out
of the heart of men, proceed
evil thoughts, adulteries,
fornications, murders,

22 thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lewdness,
an evil eye, blasphemy, pride,
foolishness. 23 All these evil
things come from within and
defile a man."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The antidote to hypocrisy is inner transformation. Paul prays for
believers "to be strengthened with might through [God's] Spirit in
the inner man' (Eph. 3:16). Confession of all known sin and the
filling of the Spirit lead us to experience God's inner power. __HDF

[Mackenaw]

Thank you again, Cimi

This one made me cry as it was a message of confirmation -- Holy Spirit confirmation -- to something I've been praying about.

God is so very Good.

God bless you, Cimi. If you had not brought this message here for us to read, I would not have read it.

Thank you, Cimi. Thank You Holy Spirit!!!

Love,
Mack