Like Removing the Lid of A Septic Tank

# 441 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 7:21-23 “"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

Sin starts with the heart. It is the human condition since the fall. And Jesus here removes the lid of our heart to give us a glimpse of some of what we will find in it. It's not a pretty sight. It's like removing the lid of a septic tank. Gross.

Part of our struggle as human beings is to keep the lid on, lest these sins break out in physical action, stinking up our lives and the lives of others. One of the functions of God's Law is to keep these “sins” in the septic tank.

The Holy Spirit is a great aid here for those who are followers of Jesus Christ. But even with the aid of God's Law and the Holy Spirit, the contents of our heart are what they are. And the contents of the human heart makes us all sinners in need of a Savior.

The only heart that is perfectly clean is the heart of Jesus, and the promise of the Gospel is this: When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, God sees the heart of Jesus and not yours. It's why Ezekiel prophesied, “”And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” (Ezek 36:26) Receive your new heart today! Forsake your wicked ways and surrender your life anew to Jesus.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.