September 14

There is nothing from without a man that entering into him can defile him. — Mark 7:15

It is right for us to preserve cleanness of body. A filthy person is not a good Christian.

But it is still more important that we have clean hearts. It is not enough to honor God with the lips – we must worship Him with our heart. A man may work in a coal mine or a foundry, and have blackened hands and face, and yet have a white heart, be pure, sincere, and true in the inward parts. On the other hand, one may have a body washed with water, and yet have a black heart.

If we would please God we must have our hearts pure, even if our bodies are necessarily soiled because we have to work in dust or soot.

The glimpse Jesus shows of the interior of the human heart is not flattering. It is a nest filled with all manner of evil things.

There is a good deal of talk in some quarters about social rank. A man who works on the streets or in certain occupations is rated away down in the scale. But nothing really degrades a man but sin.