Give It Up! Say No to Pharisaical Following

 23 - But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.” (Matthew 15:18-20)

Recall that the Pharisees taught the absolute requirement for ceremonial handwashing (which had nothing to do with actual hygiene). This, they said, was a part of being right before God. The thing is, we cannot make ourselves right before God.  We need God to do heart surgery on us. We need our hearts to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus.  That is the only way to get a clean heart and be right with God—to let God do it.  The result? A life no longer characterized by evil intentions, actions and speech.

Prayer – Thank you Lord for cleansing my heart, what I cannot do for myself!