October 12, 2005
So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
--Mark
Once a year I get a complete physical examination from Dr. Kenneth Cooper. It is a privilege to have that kind of physical attention given to me from head to toe. Dr. Cooper also pays close attention to my heart. On the stress test machine, he is able to tell what kind of problems my physical body is having.
While it’s very important that you get a physical examination of your heart from time to time, it is so much more important that you do a spiritual examination of the heart. Many people appear to be walking around spiritually healthy, but in reality their hearts are filled with cancerous sin, bitterness, and hatred. They are spiritually dying on the inside.
If you read the newspaper every morning, then you’ll notice that every day it is filled with a majority of stories concerning war, woe, and wickedness. With the increase of crime, violence, hatred, and evil in our world, many are wondering what’s wrong with people today. Why do we do what we do?
It’s a matter of the heart. The Bible speaks of the heart in many ways—full fear, courage, anger, sorrow, joy, and so on. It also refers to the heart as being the seat of our affections, volition, and the place where real decisions are made. It is the master control of your life and it is to be completely inhabited by God! Ask the Holy Spirit to remove any impure things, so that the truth of God's Word and praise to the Father will proceed out of your heart and mouth.
CHECK YOUR HEART IN FOR A SPIRITUAL EXAM BY THE GREAT PHYSICIAN.