From My Father’s Table

Living Bread

 

     Written by Pastor Sue Lynch

             CLEAN HEARTS? OR HEARTS FULL OF RUBBISH?

 

Matthew 15:18-20 “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man.”

     Jesus came to do a most wonderful thing for the fallen human race; He came to wash us and set us free from sin.  Paul wrote in the Epistle of Titus about this: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” Titus 3:5. Man is inherently evil in his fallen nature and in need of a deep cleansing inside where only God can see.  The Lord tells us that our hearts are deceitful and wicked: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9. In other words, we will tell ourselves that we are good because we may have shared, or said something nice to someone.  But given the opportunity we are all able to do evil deeds just as well as good ones.  Even the best person you may know has the fallen nature and is bent on sinning.

Jesus’ blood is so pure and powerful that it can cleanse the worst sinner and make him or her a child of God.  His blood washes away our sin, but also continues to make us righteous just like He is righteous.  He puts His nature in us by the power of the Holy Spirit and we are able to love where we could not love before.  And we are able to be patient and say good words when before our mouths were as filthy as sewer.

     Jesus said in Matthew 15 that the words that come out of our mouths actually come from our heart and this makes us unclean or defiled.  We speak evil of others; plan how to get even or even murder someone’s person by words or in many cases with the act of taking their life.  We commit adultery or fornication because we are led away by our hearts desire.  We steal because we covet things that we do not have.  We lie against others or tell half-truths because we like to exaggerate.  We think injurious thoughts against the Lord and His people or His kingdom.  All these come from our heart.  So, when Jesus saves us and washes us with His blood by the power of the Holy Spirit, our hearts undergo a good bath.  If we continue walking in Jesus’ word and doing His will; our hearts receive a new beginning.  It is truly wonderful what the Lord can do.

     Is your heart clean today, or is it still dirty?  Do you want a bath and a new heart?  Just repent of yours sins and ask Jesus to come in and clean you up. Make Him your Lord and Savior and you will become brand new!  Amen!