Live the Un-Attitude

Mark 7:15

“It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”

This is a challenging verse for me. My devotion this morning delt with this verse and having a clean heart.  Jesus goes on in verses 20-23 and says,

“…It is what comes from inside that defiles ou. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thought, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, eny, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

So, all of these things stem from your heart. If your heart isn’t clean and pure then this is what comes out of you. You can look good and like you have it all together on the outside but what does the aroma of your heart smell like? When Jesus mentioned murder, adultery, or theft I wasn’t surprised because we obviously know those things are vile, but I didn’t really consider the “hidden sins” that don’t show on the outside. The sins we fight with on the inside such as: envy, greed, lustful desires, and pride to name a few. I think about my daily struggles with always wanting more and never being content with what I already have. Seeing what someone else has and needing it too. Looking at another man and letting your mind wander. And too be so caught up in myself and so worried of what someone might think of me that I don’t put myself out there and do what I know I need to be doing. I know that I keep myself hidden or put on a show so that other people around me don’t really know what is going on in my heart. Another one that I didn’t really think of is Arrogance. How many times a day do I measure myself up to those around me and say “Well at least I’m not that bad or Well at least I don’t look like that.” When really is someone was to look at what was going on in my heart I think they would probably pass out because of the disgusting aroma radiating off of it. In my devotional they asked the question: What would it look like to take those definitions and clean them up?

·         Un-Arrogance: a gracious display of selflessness

·         Un-envy: being completely content with all of our blessings

·         Un-greed: a desire to share what God has given to us

Doesn’t that sounds like a clean heart to you? Doesn’t that sound like what Jesus would want to be in our heart? Don’t you think that would draw people to us because they would wonder how these things are possible? Wouldn’t your light shine bright instead of just flickering about to burn out?

I have challenged myself to have the Un-attitude so what comes out of my heart is clean. It’s not going to be easy, but I know that My Jesus will be smiling down at me. I don’t want what comes out of me to stink….I want it to smell attractive and just like fresh clean laundry!!!

Psalm 51:10

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Matthew 12:34

“ For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.”