One day Jesus and His disciples were eating a meal and the Pharisees noticed that some of the disciples did not wash their hands before eating.  This troubled the Pharisees, and they asked Jesus why His disciples were not following the traditions of a ceremonial washing of hands before they ate.  Jesus responded that they were hypocrites!  He warned them that the condition of the heart was more important than following the traditions of how to eat food.  Because the source of evil actions that a person commits begins in the heart. 

When Proverbs 4:23 states to “guard your heart,” the focus was putting good teaching into the heart.  The heart was the center of emotions, intellect and will. And sometimes, like the Pharisees, we become hyper focused and become more concerned about keeping bad things out.  We can also be really good at following our weekly routines of attending church and at the same time ignore God’s will.   If we do not fill our minds with God’s Word through study and prayer, we fail to know what is good and what is bad. Again, Jesus claimed that the Pharisees were more concerned about human tradition than following the commands of God.

The theme for both passages is seeking God’s wisdom and not the wisdom of the world. Therefore, we are called to consistently examine our lives.  Have we deceived ourselves by believing truths that do not align with God’s truths? Have you allowed thoughts and habits to enter your heart that leads you away from God’s will?  Have you noticed that envy, bitterness or other unhealthy emotions have become a part of your life?  To overcome these negative emotions and thoughts, we need to protect our heart.  Avoid habits and thought patterns that can lead you to sin.  Concentrate on allowing God’s Spirit to work in your life and focus on following His will and not ours. Then good things will flow from your heart!

Read Mark 7 1-23 and Proverbs 4:20-27