out of my heart

There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.

Mark 7:15

Jesus says that what comes out of us — our thoughts, our attitudes, our actions — all show what is in us. We think and act from our hearts. Our lives are lived by the outflow of our hearts. We do not live in a vacuum. We do not do things arbitrarily. What comes out of us shows the world the person that is within us.

I say what I say and I do what I do because my heart wants what I want. It’s that simple. So if I ever hope to change what I say that is bad or hurtful, or to do things that please God, I must have a heart that is changed to enable me to say and act that right way. I need Jesus to change my heart if I hope for a better life.

What Jesus says here helps me know myself. And it helps me understand people. In order for real change to take place, we must start at our hearts. And in order for me to follow Jesus well, I must let the gospel transform my heart. I must let God’s Word in the full use of God’s Holy Spirit discern the thoughts and intentions of my heart. And once God’s thoughts begin to direct my thoughts, what comes out of me can come from the best that is within me.