GUARD YOUR HEART/MIND!
“It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” —Mark 7:20-23
Many politicians are absolutely corrupt. They will do anything to try and stay in power or win an office. The corruption comes from within that person. It is what their character is. If you hang around a person long enough and hear them speak what is most important to them, you will come to know their character. Their actions will truly tell you who they are. People cannot hide their true nature forever as hard as they might try to. It will come out eventually.
How do people come to the place of thinking things they think and doing things they are doing? It has to do with what has come into their minds through their five senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste and then sin can take over.
For years and years people have said that what people watch on T.V. does not affect them. What a foolish statement as you consider companies spending millions of dollars for 30 second spots or less to advertise their wares on T.V. The eye gate is of primary importance in knowledge entering us. So is the ear gate. What we hear will also have great impact on us. Think of different styles of music. Why are there different styles? It is because different styles reach different people. Touch smell and taste are also important in gaining information, but the amount of information that comes through the eye and ear is tremendous.
Evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness come out of people to a very large degree because of what they have “fed” their senses on. We allow garbage to come into our minds and that garbage will eventually make its way out in very negative and sinful ways.
On the other hand, God’s Word tells us to “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8). May we be wise as to what we allow to go through our sensory gates!
Dear Father, may I truly seek to think on those things that You desire me to think about. Oh, please keep me from evil thoughts and actions by the Holy Spirit’s power and in the Name of Jesus my Lord. May it be so!