"Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into his stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.) He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him." Mark 7:18-20
In an article published yesterday by Runner's World Magazine, the question was raised whether a runner should try any of the new and trendy diets on the market-namely the Whole30, Alkaline and Core diets that promise weight loss and better performance. For every diet presented, there were upsides and downsides to the food choices listed. The conclusion to it all? What you put into your body is intimately linked to what you get out of it. Two runners who complete the exact same training program could experience very different results based on their nutrition. Wow, that study just told us something that we already knew right?
When it comes to food and what we eat, did you know that the Jews of Jesus' day interpreted the dietary laws laid out in Leviticus to mean that they could be clean before God, not because of the good things they ate but, because of the things they refused to eat (like pork)? I love how Jesus reminded them, and us, that what we eat is not what defiles or pollutes us-instead it is the attitude and motivation of our hearts that does so. Jesus was more concerned, as we should be, about our mind-set and thoughts than about food laws. Rather than worrying about what "junk food" we may or may not be ingesting, we should be more worried about what "junk food" we are putting into our minds. This is the "food" that will ultimately make us unclean.
So let's be honest. While you and I may be taking care to put only good things into our bodies, are we doing the same with our hearts? While eating that clean food, are we allowing our minds to chew on junk thoughts like lust, envy, greed or malice? Are we watching or listening to things that produce those ideas? That's the kind of "junk food" that will really affect our performance. But that's something we already knew right?
Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that we are to take care of our bodies both physically and mentally. Help us to put clean foods into both our mouths and our minds knowing that what we eat is intimately linked to the health of our hearts-and a healthy heart will not defile a man. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen,
Happy Running!!!
Clean Hands - Mercy Me
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