C o r r u p t i o n
Have you ever felt that you were personally tainted by the cheap shot taken by a teammate or by the unethical tactics or gamesmanship of your coach? Jesus understood that feeling and clarified the truth about it in Mark chapter 7 and verses 14 through 16.
There it reads, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 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.” Jesus was speaking with the most legalistic people of His time who spent all their time worrying about who was and who was not ‘clean’ enough for proper relationship with God.
Jesus cut through all the surface level nonsense and went straight to the heart of the matter. He knew that rather than being polluted by our surroundings, our greater problem is the corruption in our own hearts. From the hatred in our hearts come mean-spirited words. From our internal envy comes the motivation to steal or to cheat.
Jesus’ words give us all pause when we would point the finger and shift blame for our feelings of guilt or shame. Rather than point to the errors of others, we should look closely at our own hearts and confess to our own faults.
In today’s competition, compete in a way that leaves no room for anyone to point a finger or to place blame. Make this competition one of great excellence and purity.
Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 10:35-52
II Corinthians 3
I Samuel 9-10