13 February 2019 - fruit of the tomb

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.

Nothing from without can cause sin. Even the worst temptation must be embraced by our will before it defiles us. But what is coming from within us, from our hearts? Do we not have the inchoate forms of all of the vices within us? Do we not allow ourselves to dwell on and mentally enjoy temptations? If we do this, it only becomes harder to cast them aside later. The longer we spend before casting them down the more their lasting influence will be felt.

You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden
except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 

For us it is hard to read this verse without our old self entertaining doubting questions. Why a tree that we can't have? We have already, in our first thoughts, abandoned trust in the creator. We are already suspicious. We should practice with thoughts like these when we find them. We should intentionally make acts of faith in God immediately following the fact that provoked us. Everything except this tree? The LORD knows what is good for me and he must have a good reason for it. We may, at some point, understand why the tree is there. It exists as a sign of free will and the fearful ability to choose we have been given. But we will never discover that from a position where doubt is already coming from our hearts. We will only believe that God is holding out on us.

But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.
From within the man, from his heart,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.

We do not have to allow temptations into our hearts. We can take every thought captive for Christ. Let's notice what is coming out of us today so we can see how it got in in the first place. Let us use the Spirit we have been given to ensure that we only embrace good things within our hearts and only bring forth good fruit for the Kingdom.

When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.