October 10th~Once Corrupted, Now Clean

John 6:22-71

Mark 7:1-23

Matthew 15:1-20

We continued our leading idea from yesterday, that, in our sinfulness, we are incapable of saving ourselves. Only God, through His Son Jesus Christ and the indwelling of His Spirit, can save us from our helpless state. “Spend you energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you,” Jesus said. “For God the Father has sent Me for that very purpose... I am the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. I am the bread of life. No one who comes to Me will be hungry again” (John 6:27, 32-35).

Jesus went on to say, “It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing; but, the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). These thing were difficult to accept for some people and they deserted Jesus as a result. They were following Jesus for the wrong reasons; they wanted the temporary benefits — like the manna that Moses gave his people — but they were unwilling to trust Christ with their eternity.

This idea of man’s inability to save himself was carried into the next story, when the Pharisees arrived from Jerusalem to confront Jesus (Mark 7:1-23). They were looking to catch Him committing an error and, therefore, condemn Him for “breaking the law.” They thought they had Him when they noticed that His disciples did not wash their hands before they ate. Washing hands before a meal was an age-old custom, a symbol of man’s attempt to prevent defiling or corrupting himself.

Once again, here was man’s attempt to save himself by his own means and Jesus quickly pointed it out. “You hypocrites! You ignore God’s laws and substitute your own traditions... You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do. Food does not come into contact with your heart. It is the thought-life that defiles you; from within a person’s heart comes every evil thing...”

Daily Reflection

The Pharisees had deceived themselves and the people of God by teaching that these type of traditions could prevent self-corruption and, therefore, make them acceptable to God. How- ever, Jesus made it clear that people are already corrupted because of their wicked hearts. “All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God” (7:23).

Have you ever fallen into the trap of believing that you could make yourself acceptable to God by the things you do or don’t do? Explain.

Since it is your heart that is corrupt and sinful, then there is nothing you can do to make it clean. Your external failures are products of your internal fallenness. Therefore, you need someone, other than yourself, to cleanse your corrupted heart. The only person capable of doing that is Christ. By His blood and through the indwelling of His Spirit, He exchanges your filthiness for His righteousness; He makes you a new creature with right standing before God.

Thank God He has given you a way to be acceptable to Him. You are no longer defiled! You are clean!

Cease your attempts to make yourself right before Him. Leave behind your filthy, fallen selfrighteousness for His life-giving Spirit!

BiAY.org |Day 283 — 82 Days to Go