Fresh Insights on our Insides

In Mark 7, Jesus has a confrontation with the scribes and Pharisees that concludes this way:

Then he called the crowd close to him again, and spoke to them, “Listen to me now, all of you, and understand this, There is nothing outside a man which can enter into him and make him ‘common.' It is the things which come out of a man that make him ‘common’!”

Later, when he had gone indoors away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about this parable.

“Oh, are you as dull as they are?” he said. “Can’t you see that anything that goes into a man from outside cannot make him ‘common’ or unclean? You see, it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, and passes out of the body altogether, so that all food is clean enough. But,” he went on, “whatever comes out of a man, that is what makes a man ‘common’ or unclean. For it is from inside, from men’s hearts and minds, that evil thoughts arise — lust, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, arrogance and folly! All these evil things come from inside a man and make him unclean!”

Now, considering that the One-most-uncommon has chosen to live in us, let's revisit that ending from the inverse:

"For it is from inside, from the heart and mind of Jesus in us, that good thoughts arise - love, generosity, life-giving, purity, giving, real goodness, honesty, tangible kindness, encouragement, kind words, humility and wisdom! All these good things come from inside a man filled with Jesus and make him clean and pure!"

On this Monday morning, let's rearm ourselves with all of His glorious attributes by living from the true source of our lives - Jesus Himself! He's ever able to relive His life through ours - including all of its inherent goodness - if we'll only Abide in Him throughout this day and this week!