Clean or Unclean Hearts

In september 2013 I began studying the Bible with an organization called BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). It has been good for me as I lack much Bible knowledge. I did not grow up studying the Bible so there are many stories and histories that I still do not know. But God is faithful and knows my eager heart to be in His word.

This week we are reading in Matthew 15 about Jesus' teachings to the Disciples Pharisees and Religious leaders about what it means to have a clean or unclean heart.
I felt convicted as I thought about how so often I may appear to be living the traditions of religion, but in my heart there are things like evil thoughts, envy, bitterness or just condition of being hard toward people God has put in my life. Here is what stood out to me most in my notes this week:

"Food enters the mouth, goes in the stomach and out of the body. Food cannot truly defile a person nor can food draw a person closer to God. What comes out of the mouth-our words- makes us unclean or corrupt, because it reveals what is inside. Sinful words betray wrong thoughts or emotions springing from an unclean heart. People might be outwardly religious without being truly followers of the Word of God. Following rules or fulfilling personal expectations sometimes replace true communion with God in prayer". -BSF International

This springs on so many thoughts in my head. I think about the number of ways we all tend to have our own agenda and our own set of personal expectations and if anything comes in the way of that- whether God, people, plans- then we become frustrated and whatever comes out is a reflection of what is going on on the inside. How do we treat or respond to people who are difficult or different than us? Do we have mercy and compassion for them like Jesus did? Or do we act out as a Pharisee and become hard and judgmental because someone doesn't meet our expectations or do things the way we would? It's a difficult one to swallow.

Pride is destructive. When we hold tighter to our own way or our own personal agenda rather than to treat others kindly and respond lovingly, I think we are harboring a hard and unclean heart. When we hold tighter to our pride rather than to freely love people and care for them the way Jesus did, rather than to lead them with kindness and a pure heart, I think that is religious. Rules and expectations. Pharisees.

How many of us would be comfortable asking the people closest to us how we are doing outwardly that is a reflection of what is going on on the inside? Would we allow them to give us a "heart check"? Are we humble enough to allow those we see as inferior to us to evaluate us and let us know how we are doing as far as treating others? It's difficult. Many of us don't enjoy criticism, even if it is constructive.

Here are some thoughts I have been thinking about....

Do I hand out harsh criticism more than I hand out true, heartfelt compliments?
Do I thank others enough?
Do I truly want what is best for others?
Do I encourage others enough and create a positive environment?
Is what I am doing creating more tension than peace? (At home, work, church groups?)
Are my words and actions towards God and others a reflection of a pure heart or one of a hard, bitter, unclean heart?

I don't want a heart like a religious, calloused Pharisee. I don't want to be remembered as being difficult, controlling, stubborn and power hungry. I want to be remembered as someone who could humble themselves enough to realize I am not always right and my way is not always the best. I want to be remembered as someone who puts the best interest of those around me before my own. I would rather be remembered as someone who showed grace and compassion towards others like Jesus did. I know I am too sinful to do this on my own, I'm going to need the power of God in my heart. It may take a lifetime to get there, but that's what I'm striving for.

This is the prayer of my heart this morning.