Garbage In, Garbage Out

Today’s Bible Readings are Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, & Proverbs 10:13-14

Mark 7:20-23

²⁰ And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. ²¹ For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. ²³ All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

Have you ever wondered why we think the way we do? Have you ever spent any time trying to figure out why we act the way we do? What is it that leads us to do the different things that we find ourselves doing? The answer is found in these words that are spoken by Jesus.

The Pharisees were people who practiced a lot of rigid regulations. They practiced these rigid regulations because they thought that in following them they could perfect themselves to be a super spiritual body of people. It wasn’t that any of these things were bad; in fact, they had value to them according to Paul.

Philippians 3:4-7

⁴ though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

Paul never said that these things listed in his pedigree were bad things. He knew that they had their place. There was gain & profit in the things that they practiced BUT THEY COULD DO NOTHING WITH THE REAL ISSUE—THE HEART OF MAN.

Paul continues in his letter to the church:

Philippians 3:8-9

⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Now Paul begins to speak the solution to our sin problem—JESUS! He realized that ONLY JESUS can change our heart. It is only when our heart is changed that our life is changed. It is only when the inside is changed that the outside is changed. There is nothing that we can do on an outward basis to change what is an inward problem.

Jesus said:

John 3:3

³ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

The outward things that we stress so much can do nothing if there hasn’t first been an inward change. It doesn’t matter how much we work on cleaning up the outside of our cup, the inside must be washed first. That doesn’t mean that we do nothing with the outside of the cup. The way we live matters to God. Our actions should match with our faith.

Once we deal with the root of the problem; our heart, now we are positioned to live right. The next thing that we do is begin to store good things into our heart. We have the Spirit when we get saved. Now we begin to fill our hearts & minds with the right things instead of the wrong things like we once did. No more:

1.      Internet porn

2.      Filthy jokes

3.      Smutty television programs

4.      Profane music

5.      Hanging out at wrong playgrounds with wrong playmates

It is time to:

1.      Fill our minds with the Word of God.

2.      Watch will edify & encourage us.

3.      Listen to what will build us up to be like Christ.

4.      Be around a people who share the same purpose & values that we do.

5.      Serve in a local church & use our gifts for God’s glory.

 

Luke 6:45

⁴⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

To answer the earlier question, what we see, hear & think sink deep into our heart. Actions come from the thought we have allowed to be part of our mind. Behaviors follow what we act out on, which is a result of what we have out into us. All behaviors have consequences.

 

James 1:14-15

¹⁴ Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. ¹⁵ These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Remember this one thing—GARBAGE IN = GARBAGE OUT!

Pastor Richard Schlotter