"Listen now, all of you— take this to heart." ~~Jesus

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] English: Sacred heart of Jesus Español: Sagrado corazon de Jesus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

Jesus challenges us to understand that it is not what we eat that is the problem. The problem is our heart. The problem is what we think, do and say. That is the real pollution in our life. Jesus is clear that it's what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness—all these are vomit from the heart in GOD's world (Kingdom).

We need to know this about our self so that we can take advantage of Jesus redeeming us from the price we have to pay for what is in our heart. Jesus gives a new heart. Now that is good news.

"Listen now, all of you— take this to heart. It's not what you swallow that pollutes your life; it's what you vomit—that's the real pollution." ~~Jesus (Mark 7:15 The Message)

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"It's what comes out of a person that pollutes ... all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution." ​~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to be concerned about the right things. It is all about the heart. Is what is coming out of us from a "pure of heart"? Or are spewing forth "vomit from the heart"?

We worry about how we look. We struggle to create a perception of a good life when at our core we have a problem. GOD sees the heart. GOD knows our heart. We can't fool Him.

We must change our mind about what is important. We must focus on getting right with GOD.

"It's what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness—all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution." ~~Jesus (Mark 7:21-23 The Message)

"You scratch out God's Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this." ~~Jesus

Jesus is talking to religious people. That would be us. He challenges us to really understand what God is saying and to quit making up things that only benefit what we want. Jesus isn't looking for selfish people. He doesn't want us to be religious and quote scripture for our own benefit. He knows we do this way too much.

He wants us to search out God's word and act on what He is asking us to do.

"You scratch out God's Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this." ~~Jesus (Mark 7:13 The Message)

"But you weasel out of that by saying ...." ~~Jesus

Jesus is direct with us about twisting God's words and using them to our advantage. Jesus knows what His Father said and meant. We do too. We can't weasel out by trying to change the intent. Jesus challenges us to not be religious. It is all about knowing God, listening to God and doing what our loving Father wants us to. Obedience is preferred over sacrifice.

May I believe what God has said and act on it.

Moses said, 'Respect your father and mother,' and, 'Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.' But you weasel out of that by saying that it's perfectly acceptable to say to father or mother, 'Gift! What I owed you I've given as a gift to God,' thus relieving yourselves of obligation to father or mother. (Mark 7:10 The Message)

"You get rid of God's command so you won't be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions! " ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to obey God and not follow the latest religious fads. God is clear in what He wants us to do. Religious leaders can deceive us with various fashionable and trendy ideas. This is not God's way.

Our way is to "interpret" God's word to our advantage. Jesus knows we do it. He demands that we stop.

God's word and way is clear. May we follow it today and every day.

"You get rid of God's command so you won't be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions! " ~~Jesus (Mark 7:9 The Message)

"You ditch God's command and are just taking up the latest fads." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges the religious stay focused on God and what He wants. Fads come and go. Jesus and His Father are the same from all of eternity.

It is important to not make a big show of just saying the right thing, but make sure our heart is in it. Do we  act like we are worshiping God, but they don't mean it? Do we just use God as a cover for teaching whatever suits our fancy?

This is important. Jesus is challenging us.

"You ditch God's command and are just taking up the latest fads." ~~Jesus (Mark 7:6 The Message)

"They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy." ~~Jesus

Jesus is very direct about how religious leaders are focused on justifying what they teach to match their way of seeing things. That is not God's way.

Jesus challenges us not to see things from a religious point of view. We must have a heart after God, seek what God wants us to do and say, and do that only. The focus is on God and not what we think or believe.

"They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy." ~~Jesus (Mark 7:7 The Message)

"They act like they are worshiping me, but they don't mean it." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to stop acting. And, He is serious. He means it.

How many times do we just go through the motions? What about our prayers at meals? What about how we sing (or don't sing) the songs at church? What about our "gifts" at the offering time?

Are we just acting? Do we really mean it?

May we worship God like we mean it. May we be head over heels in love with Jesus and let our worship show it.

"They act like they are worshiping me, but they don't mean it." ~~Jesus (Mark 7:6 The Message)

"Are you being willfully stupid?" ~~Jesus

Jesus explains so many things to us. He challenges us to hear, really hear, what He is saying. He is blunt. He is straightforward. He really want us "to get it". He has given us the Holy Spirit to help.

May we listen and understand. It is important.

"Are you being willfully stupid?" ~~Jesus (Mark 7:18 The Message)

"These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it." ~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to have our heart in the right place with God and everyone else. It is all about our relationships. It isn't the "big show" we make of saying things. Do we do the right God-things? Is our heart in it even if no one knows about what we do?

May my heart be in it every day!!

"These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it." ~Jesus (Mark 7:6)