Defiled Hearts

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters from the outside can defile that person; but the things that come from within can defile."

When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, "are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from the outside cannot defile, since it enters not from the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?" "But what comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from within and they defile." 

Lord Jesus, grant to us a clean heart. All the evils you have mentioned, and many more, are at the core of sinfulness. Our hearts were created pure and without blemish so we would honor and please you. Help us to turn from our wicked and sinful ways that we have allowed to fester in our hearts. Only with the grace of thy mercy can we be redeemed and be restored from the defiled ways that offend you. Amen.

Chatter of Our Lips

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?" He responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." He went on to say, "How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and mother, and whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, 'If someone says to the father or mother, "Any support you might have had from me is gorban'" (meaning dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things." 

Consideration: Jesus calls out the hypocrites for honoring him with their lips, yet their hearts are far from him. 

May we always give honor to our Lord with all of our hearts; never to offend him with the hypocrisy of the false chatter of our lips. Amen.

The Tassel of His Cloak

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to the land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel of his cloak; and as many touched it were healed.

Lord Jesus, how great was the faith of those who came to you with their sick loved ones and friends. They believed that you had the power to heal just by touching your garment. Help us, Lord, never to lose hope, and to trust in you always when we are faced with similar circumstances in the modern, faithless world we live in today. Amen.

"Give Peace a Try"

Many are nervous, you feel it in the air 

Streets in an uproar; discord and fear 

People are angry, on the left and right

Join in the hell or let's give peace a try

Nothing is ever gained if we complain

This the season of raining down pain

Equating the righteous to an evil force

The plan is division without remorse

Hate has a way of bleeding its seeds

Thriving abundantly within the weeds

It bears no fruit except what is vile

Sown among the righteous to defile

Do not be comfortable with this mess

Blessed are refined through the test

Armed only with God's peacefulness

Healing will overcome all lawlessness

We are on a collision course mission

A rebellion is full steam to its fruition

Battle forces are dug in on both sides

Tug-of-War Compromise: "Give Peace a Try"

The Bitterness of Sinfulness

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Consideration: We are to be the seasoning for every season; to let our light shine upon the darkness. We are the light of the world and spice that enhances and satisfies those living through the bitterness of sinfulness.

Like Sheep Without a Shepherd

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in a boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Lord Jesus, sometimes we get tired from the day-to-day struggle. We long for a place of quiet and solitude to relax and rewind. It is there, Lord, where we rest in your peace. We pray that in these times you will come to accompany us and speak to our hearts and to refresh us anew. Amen.  

Jeus Sends the Twelve

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick - no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them." So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Lord Jesus, this was the beginning of you blessing the disciples with a mission. You sent them out in teams of two with strict instructions on how they were to carry out your command. 

Help us, Lord, to listen with our hearts when you wish to use us to accomplish the tasks that we may be sent to do by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Amen.