Give up the World

"Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him.  Rather it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean'."- Mark 7:15

     I remember when I was about 8-13, my parents boycotting disney.  It was many years ago, but supposedly disney supported something that went against our beliefs as christians.  As a young child I didn't exactly understand this at the time.  Now that I'm older, I understand you don't want to support something or someone that goes against your beliefs. However, this verse gives me a different outlook on that.  Just because we may watch a movie that has foul language, or go to a bar; doesn't mean that we are sinning.  It's the things that we do- the actions we take and the words that we speak that make us 'unclean'.  As Mark 7:15 says "Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him...", it's the things that come out of us. 
   
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified that sinful nature with its passions and desires"-     Galations 5:24
  
    These 2 verses connect to each other.  If we crucified the sinful nature inside of us- then we don't have to worry about 'unclean' things coming out of us.  It's so hard to so no to a desire we have, to turn down the things we enjoy most.  It takes work, but when we accept Christ into our hearts, we have a new joy,  a new passion, and a desire with in us that longs for Him with everything we have. 

Dear Lord, I thank you for this beautiful day.  I thank you for giving me the desire to praise you and glorify you in my life.  I thank you for having a wonderful family and friends that long for you and that strengthen my relationship with you and encourage me to follow you instead of the ways of the world.  I ask that you continue to work in me, change my heart, strengthen my desires and passions to to follow you and to glorify you in everything I do.