Deceit Comes From Inside

“²⁰And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.” — Mark 7:20 (ESV)

And who is “he”, Jesus! It is not what enters into a person that makes them less than the righteous person they can be. It is what comes from within and is expressed outwardly. I wrote before after being led to this same passage in Mark. I covered the same as I was looking at the word “envy”. It is what is inside of us that creates the negativity in our lives, not that which enters our bodies.

“²¹For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²²coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” — Mark 7:21-23 (ESV)

Looking again at this list is eye opening and the fact that they all come from the heart is something certainly to take in as I study. I think of how did it all get there. What caused me to have all of this inside and why would I let it out if it would indeed harm another, not to mention bring negative attention to me. Well the answer lies in the evil one. He has created the opportunities for us to display these evil things and when we do, we are playing right into his hands.

I have to remember that which is inside me and what they are doing there. I have to remember to bring only to others that which will lift them up and leave the negative, evil things inside and allow God to deal with them in my life as I cover them with what is righteous and good.

“⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” — Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)

Paul identifies what is righteous and good that I should be filling my life with and allowing to be displayed for others to see. When taking action with these things, I am able to experience the peace that only God can provide. I am able to have joy in my life and bring that same peace and joy to those I am in contact with.

Deceit is one of those evil things that is inside and I have to lean on those things that are righteous and good to weed it out of my life. I have to know when the evil one is presenting opportunities to display the evil from within me and instead exhibit that which Paul identifies above.

What things of deceit are you allowing to escape your heart? Are you not taking the opportunity to identify those opportunities presented by the evil one? What if you did and then worked to exhibit the good and righteous things Paul identifies as opposed to the deceit and other evil things that are inside us all?