"For out of the heart"

Matthew 15: 10-20


Matthew 15: 10-11:  Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. ¹¹ What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

We seem to get bombarded with lots of messages about food.  The recent superbowl weekend was almost as much about party snacks as the game itself!  We get lots of information about healthy choices, whether they are diet promotions or articles promoting “good foods” and decrying “bad foods”.  Certainly food is important and we are responsible for taking care of ourselves by eating properly.  But you can see in Matthew 15:17-20 that food is not really the main point of Jesus’ narrative:  


 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸ But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰ These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”


Instead of so many messages about what goes into our mouths, wouldn’t it be nice to get more reminders about what comes out of our mouths, what comes from the heart?  My study bible notes state “Fellowship with God is not interrupted by unclean hands or food, but by sin.”  How true I find that to be in my life, how about you?  Thank God for the Holy Spirit who convicts us at such times and calls us to repentance.


The book of Proverbs has some pretty good advice on this topic.  The following is from Proverbs 4: 23-24: 
  

 Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.


Thank-you Jesus, for reminding us about what is truly important, and thank you for the wisdom of Proverbs.  Help us to guard our hearts and fill them with your word so that what comes out of our mouth brings you glory.  Amen

Food for Thought

"I'm hungry!"  Oh, my, how many times a day do we say or think these words? I often find myself grazing through my kitchen in search of something to satisfy my hunger...my boredom...my loneliness...my quest for something to fill the void.

Recently I came to the realization that food, or maybe just eating, had become an idol. Just what is an idol?  The dictionary says: A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered. Well, some days, that definition certainly fits. I have this craving, this desire to satisfy and, if I am honest, even food doesn't fill the hole.

John 6:32 (NIV)
   Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 

I didn't understand what an idol food had become until this past Lent when I was trying to fast for 24 hours each week. It was such a difficult task, and I began to examine my heart to try to understand why. I turned to Isaiah 58:11, "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame."

I must admit, I still struggle with this particular idol in my life, but at least now I can put a name to it, recognize where I am heading when I start to focus on food and not on God. I recall the Israelites and how God provided manna for them. They never went hungry. I want to start today to turn to God, to Jesus for my hunger and thirst issues.

Jesus will fill me up if I turn to Him. 

John 6:32-40

Hunger to Connect With the Will of God

John 4:28-38

The Greek language distinguishes at least four different ways the word love is used. Today I would like to speak of two of them, phileo love and agape love. Simply stated:

phileo is love that reciprocates

                      agape is love given whether the love is returned or not        

unconditional love

As Jesus walked the earth agape love is just what he demonstrated at all times. That is the only way to live a sinless life as Jesus did. Though his disciples followed Jesus and loved him, they struggled like we do to offer agape love 24/7.

How do we enhance our ability to offer agape love? I assert that feeding ourselves and being fed spiritual food is the only way; opening our hearts to the moving of the Holy Spirit and immersing ourselves in His Word. Then we will hunger to connect with the will of God.

When the disciples spoke to Jesus about needing to eat, in John 4:32,34  his reply was;

                                      “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.                                                 My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” 

Jesus’ words referred to being on a mission that took precedence over any human need. A goal so important, nothing could interrupt it. A passion of the greatest depth.

This encounter, though far more intense, is similar to the role of a parent with an inconsolable baby. The infant is their focus, despite anything else, including their own hunger. The unconditional love they feel for their child takes priority over any want or desire they may have, and their heart is centered on the comfort and peace of their precious, innocent child.

God loves all of his children with agape love as Jesus validated while he was here on earth. The woman at the well, who sinned time and again, the people who condemned him as he spread the word, and those who beat and nailed him to the cross, were loved. Jesus begged the Lord to forgive them as he was in excruciating pain and agony. That is agape love.

Agape Love is what God gives us.

Agape Love is what God asks of us.

Read/Listen to John 4:28-38