14 July 2014
1 Samuel 28
Jeremiah 4
Matthew 15
“ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART”
Most people are never conscious of the need for spiritual cleanliness; the Jewish religious leaders had made quite a ritual out of material and physical cleanliness, hands in particularly had to be constantly cleansed. In today’s chapter in Matthew we read a lesson of Jesus about this which should be familiar to us: the kind of defilement we should be really concerned about!
Jesus said, “… what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” [Matthew 15:11] Remember what we read in Matthew 12? “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks … on the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word …” [Matthew 12:34,36] What is there in “abundance” in your heart? If we listen, read or watch many of the things that are said today, so that they become part of thinking and attitudes, we start to developed a defiled heart.
Life today is such a contrast to our experiences 70 years ago! Our concerns then included getting home from school if air raid warnings sounded; having faith in the overseeing hand of God was fully ‘real’ to our parents. A very different diet was available for our hearts in those days.
There are countries today where true believers really need to have genuine faith. God’s word tells us that the “peace” we presently experience is going to dramatically change are our hearts strong and focused so they will be able to cope with the time of world-wide trouble and anxiety which must surely come?
Jesus more fully explains his point to his disciples, “ … what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts … sexual immorality …” [Matthew 15:18-19] and similar things; much of so called ‘entertainment’ today has these things in abundance!
Jesus also made this intriguing point, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up,” [Matthew 15:13] Does your thinking and doing show that he has planted you? .
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- DC
Thought for the Day
14 July 2014
"The dry bones of Israel are as vibrant with promise as were the original words of Ezekiel who prophesied concerning them. The desert sands of the world are as pregnant with hope as the living water which flowed from the rock in the wilderness. God has spoken and His word shall surely prevail. It will overarch the millennia, sweep aside the ignorance and godlessness of an age which worships the achievements and freedoms of man, and will bring an astonished world face to face with the law of the Lord going forth from Zion."
- Harry Tennant
The Man David
1 Samuel 28
Jeremiah 4
Matthew 15
“ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART”
Most people are never conscious of the need for spiritual cleanliness; the Jewish religious leaders had made quite a ritual out of material and physical cleanliness, hands in particularly had to be constantly cleansed. In today’s chapter in Matthew we read a lesson of Jesus about this which should be familiar to us: the kind of defilement we should be really concerned about!
Jesus said, “… what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” [Matthew 15:11] Remember what we read in Matthew 12? “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks … on the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word …” [Matthew 12:34,36] What is there in “abundance” in your heart? If we listen, read or watch many of the things that are said today, so that they become part of thinking and attitudes, we start to developed a defiled heart.
Life today is such a contrast to our experiences 70 years ago! Our concerns then included getting home from school if air raid warnings sounded; having faith in the overseeing hand of God was fully ‘real’ to our parents. A very different diet was available for our hearts in those days.
There are countries today where true believers really need to have genuine faith. God’s word tells us that the “peace” we presently experience is going to dramatically change are our hearts strong and focused so they will be able to cope with the time of world-wide trouble and anxiety which must surely come?
Jesus more fully explains his point to his disciples, “ … what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts … sexual immorality …” [Matthew 15:18-19] and similar things; much of so called ‘entertainment’ today has these things in abundance!
Jesus also made this intriguing point, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up,” [Matthew 15:13] Does your thinking and doing show that he has planted you? .
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
14 July 2014
"The dry bones of Israel are as vibrant with promise as were the original words of Ezekiel who prophesied concerning them. The desert sands of the world are as pregnant with hope as the living water which flowed from the rock in the wilderness. God has spoken and His word shall surely prevail. It will overarch the millennia, sweep aside the ignorance and godlessness of an age which worships the achievements and freedoms of man, and will bring an astonished world face to face with the law of the Lord going forth from Zion."
- Harry Tennant
The Man David
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