Quote from Forum Archives on September 18, 2001, 10:41 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

What more do we need? Those of us from a generation of
information and technology have more information than we can
possibly use. Yet when it comes to matters of faith, often we
have difficulty recognizing and digesting what is right in front
of us. This is nothing new.

Way back in the time of Christ, at least 2000 years ago, people
were looking for signs and wonders. The scribes, chief priests,
and Pharisees were all people who knew every letter of the Law -
and the prophesies, yet they could not see or understand the very
things that were right in front of them.

Lest we judge those people too harshly, we ought to examine our
OWN hearts. I know I've had plenty of opportunities to examine
my own heart, and I have frequently found myself in NEED of self
examiniation in this area. It wouldn't hurt even the most
faithful to occasionally reexamine themselves in matters of the
heart.

My friends, I can always tell that something within is not right
when I find myself easily irritated, dissatisfied, or having any
issues with my attitude. I am happy to expose myself, for I
openly confess that I have sin in my life. You see, I NEED a
savior. It's NOT that I don't TRY to do what's right, I most
certainly do. But more often than I care to admit, I come up
short, sometimes far short.

Now, you may not have as "dirty" a list as my list, but can you
honestly say that you do not struggle with what's right, or being
irritated, perhaps judging others, or who knows what else?

I believe that our common need is that we need a Savior. The
Good News - the Gospel - is that we have one. That is what
Christian jargon calls "The Gospel of Jesus Christ".

The stuff that follows comes straight out of a Bible lesson from
the Gospel of Mark, the Psalms, and Proverbs. The stories may be
familiar to some of you. But the message is worth reading
carefully, then thinking about it. I can see my own deep needs
from within this story.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

September 18

It's the Heart That Matters

Mark 7:1-23,31-37; 8:1-21; Psalm 105:44-45; Proverbs 18:15

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him,
having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of His
disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands,
they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat
unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the
tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace,
they do not eatunless they wash. And there are many other things
which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups,
pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples
not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread
with unwashed hands?"

He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you
hypocrites, as it is written:

'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far
from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men.'

For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition
of men-the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such
things you do."

He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God,
that you may keep your tradition. For Moses said, 'Honor your
father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother,
let him be put to death.' But you say, 'If a man says to his
father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from
me is Corban"-' (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let
him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of
God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed
down. And many such things you do."

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them,
"Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters
a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which
come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If
anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"

When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples
asked Him concerning the parable. 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."

Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came
through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of
Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an
impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on
him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His
fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then,
looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha,"
that is, "Be opened."

Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his
tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. Then He commanded them
that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the
more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond
measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the
deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing
to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, "I
have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued
with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them
away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for
some of them have come from afar."

Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these
people with bread here in the wilderness?"

He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said,
"Seven."

So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He
took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them
to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the
multitude. They also had a few small fish; and having blessed
them, He said to set them also before them. So they ate and were
filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover
fragments. Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And
He sent them away, immediately got into the boat with His
disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him,
seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. But He sighed
deeply in His spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a
sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this
generation."

And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to
the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread,
and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the
boat. Then He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the
leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we
have no bread."

But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason
because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor
understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not
see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many
baskets full of fragments did you take up?"

They said to Him, "Twelve."

"Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many
large baskets full of fragments did you take up?"

And they said, "Seven."
So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?"
Mark 7:1-23, 31-37; 8:1-21

WORSHIP

He gave them the lands of the Gentiles,
And they inherited the labor of the nations,
That they might observe His statutes
And keep His laws.
Praise the LORD!
Psalm 105:44-45

WISDOM

The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Proverbs 18:15

devotionals.crosswalk.com/CC_Content_Page/0,,PTID106200|CHID241246|CIID,00.html

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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