Give Me A Squeeze
Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “All of you, listen to Me and understand: Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.” … Matthew 7:14-15
When Jesus was speaking to the surrounding crowd, He was responding to an accusation that He was not following the religious rules of washing before eating. He turned their question on them, as He often did, and pointed out that following the religious law wasn’t what would make them sick or well. It was what comes OUT of a person … out of their hearts via their mouths and actions … that would defile them. Is it wrong to think about what goes into our bodies and minds? Not at all! But the Pharisees were convinced that their religious practices were what would save them. Jesus wanted them to know that what they carried in their hearts, resulting in their actions, was that which would accuse them. When our grandchildren were closer and younger, I frequently shuttled them to and fro. My car radio was always tuned to either Christian talk or contemporary Christian music. On one occasion, our middle granddaughter asked, “Nana, do you always listen to God music?” I answered her that I didn’t “always” listen to Christian music, but most of the time, yes. I gave her an object lesson on this very topic. What happens when you soak a sponge in vinegar? When it gets squeezed, sour smelling vinegar will go everywhere. By the same token, what happens when you soak yourself in talk or music that glorifies evil in various forms? You got it. When you get “squeezed” by your environment or emotions, what will inevitably flow out? So I told her that I choose to fill myself with whatever is pure and noble and beautiful (see Philippians 4:8) so that when I get squeezed, as I most certainly will, God’s Word and ways will be what comes flowing out in my life. If you don’t like your outcome, better check those sources!
Prayer
Father, please fill me with Your Spirit and the desire to know Your Word and ways, so that what comes out of my life honors You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.