Mark starts out with Jesus’ conversation about a clean heart. In verses 21-23 Jesus tells us about the wickedness that is in our hearts. Yes, it is even in YOUR heart. The propensity to be evil lies within everyone for we have a fallen nature. This is why Paul preaches over and over how “we all have sinned”, that “there are none righteous”, and we are told in scripture that the heart is desperately wicked. Jesus’ message is always to clean the inside first, so that the outside shows it. Please note, if your outside is wicked and doing evil you do not have a clean heart. And NO you’re not basically a good person, it’s not just your friends or culture. Your friends and culture just reveal where we all would go without the transformation of the heart through Jesus Christ.
We must first clean the inside, do not just change your behavior. Transformation starts with salvation, which is realizing I am a sinner and need the work of Christ on the cross to pay for my sins. The Spirit of God then moves into your life making you a child of God. Second remember even though we are a new creation, the old nature is still pulling us back. This is why the next step is to transform our minds. This transformation is described in Romans 12:1-2. We must take in God’s Word and listen to God’s Spirit. This is why we should not take in the old nature, fleshly music that feeds our old ways or watch many movies that give us worldly perspectives. We do not want the mind and heart of this world but the mind and heart of our creator and savior. Let Christ give you a new life as He did the young lady in our reading today. Thirdly, this is why God gave us the culture of the church. The church should be a community of likeminded believers that encourages the new life.
I am praying that you will clean out the inside through the power of Christ.
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