February 24

Heart Problems

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 31:9-18 | Leviticus 15:1-16:28 | Mark 7:1-23 | Proverbs 10:13-14

Today’s Scripture Focus:  Mark 7:1-23

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain for their teachings are merely human rules” (Mark 7:6-7 TNIV).

The Pharisees knew how to look spiritual. They knew how to play their spiritual games. They focused on the external and lived by the rules.

They were religious, but they were not godly. Their hearts needed a major cleansing.

Saying the right words, playing by the rules, and doing what others expect is not the essence of Christianity. What God is looking for is a heart that is changed from the inside. The transformed heart then works itself out into everything we do.

Don’t get so focused on the externals that you miss the heart of the matter—a heart that needs to be transformed. Open up your heart to Jesus and allow him to cleanse you from the inside out. Everything else will follow.

To focus only on the externals will lead you to pretending to be something that you are not—that is only hypocrisy. Yet, allowing Jesus to deal with your heart, allows you to live in fullness and freedom and authenticity. People will see the real thing and be amazed.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for playing games, for pretending. Create in me a clean heart, a pure heart and help me to live authentically. Amen.