What Jesus Did! 'Defiled!' — Mark 7:20-23

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

And then [Jesus] added, "It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you."
— Mark 7:20-23 NLT

Key Thought

Sometimes in our quest to emphasize Jesus' concern about our inner being, we accidentally let go of any sense of holy standards. Jesus did not. Jesus' followers were instructed not to do so. Morality was stressed as a response to God's grace, was the product of a life led by the Holy Spirit, and was the demonstration that they died to their old life of sin when a person was baptized with Christ into his death. Immorality was condemned in specific and strong terms. However, immorality and corruption existed, finding their origin in Satan's influence on the inner being of a person. Externals were simply the way a person's inner life became exposed.

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, please work on my heart. Purify my motives and my desires. Make me your person, holy and pure. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Galatians 5:19-23
  • Psalm 139:23-24
  • James 1:13-15

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4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Tuning to My Interior World
Article by Phil Ware
Obeying what God commanded and avoiding the things he condemns is important. However, the way we deal with them must involve our interior world! Phil Ware reminds that to become JesuShaped, we have to pay attention to our interior worlds, the world of our hearts, and not just religious externals.
I'm Gorgeous Inside!
Article by Phil Ware
Would it really be nice if we could really see what was on the inside of people — their hearts? Phil Ware challenges us to pursue the faithful love, righteous character, and gracious compassion of God from our hearts.
From Within: The Heart Inside
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"And then [Jesus] added, "It is what comes from inside that defiles you.""
Choices: Truth or Lies?
Article by Kimberli J. Brackett
Do we really have all these choices or is there only one choice? Righteousness is not a choice but it is defined by God and his will, not by popular culture, media, and we cannot compromise and or flirt with evil.

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 7:20-23 NLT — "It is what comes from inside that defiles you."

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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