The Real You {Mark 7}

Today's Scripture Passage:  Mark 7

As we shelter in place I’ve noticed a lot of jokes about remaining in your pajamas all day; failing to shower or shave, and I had to wonder, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be loved for who we truly are, without pretense?

Did you know God feels the same way?

Here in Mark 7 the Pharisees are watching and questioning him again eager to find something to pin on Jesus to discredit Him. Notice:

The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ⁶ And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“‘This people honors me with their lips,    but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me,    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’⁸ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”⁹ And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! (Mark 7:5-9)

Jesus was always Himself, but that didn’t seem to make a difference to the religious rulers of that day. He couldn’t remain true to His purpose for coming and hope to win their approval. 

Yet He wants to show them their own hypocrisy; “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

But it’s what He says next that should be important to all of us,  “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 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 7:14-15)

It’s all about our heart! Outward appearances only masks our true nature. We should never go by what we see externally in knowing a person’s real spiritual condition --how they dress, how they behave on Sunday are only outward signs, and don’t show the true spiritual condition of a person.

 Our true nature is generally buried deep within our heart which only God can openly read, but wouldn't it be wonderful if we were free to be ourselves? No pretense, no play-acting?

Jesus knows the real “heart” of each of us.  And LOVES US! Uniquely! He loves us in our messiest or picture perfect. Our outward appearance doesn’t matter. Let these words sink in a moment:

But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, __(your name)__, And He who formed you, ______, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!” (Isaiah 43:1)

If we would start loving other the way Jesus loves, or better yet, allow Jesus to love others through us, perhaps we will one day be absolutely free to be loved for who we truly are. 

Blessings, 

sue