Greetings
How do you have your devotion time? A friend in Trinidad often writes that she sips her coffee while having her devotions. Today’s Holy Nougat might require a bit of sipping.
“there is nothing from without the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.” Mark 7:15 ASV
Years ago, my body began to demonstrate a severe response to gluten. It is believed that I had perhaps always had the tendency toward same. The irony is, although the gluten which activates an autoimmune response is something I ingest; the real problem is embedded within my body. Knowing the trigger for my body’s reaction as well as the possible reactions means that I take the necessary action to remain well.
So, what is it that is embedded within, perhaps part of what we might consider our ‘nature’, that has been defiling our spirit and scarring our soul? Have we taken the defilement for granted because ‘that’s me’, oblivious to the danger to ourselves? For, unlike some health concerns for which no ‘cure’ has been found; we can rest assured in the knowledge that Christ’s Blood CAN and WILL provide the antidote to that which ails our souls.
And, knowing the triggers (the external forces which activate our sin response) means that rather than self-medicate (ie attempt to solve our sin problems by ourselves); we can APPLY our medicine – the Blood of Jesus on time. Moreover, when we give those soul-defilers over to God, we are guaranteed that healing may be effected from within, and our response to said triggers proves whether we’ve truly given the issue over for soul surgery or not.
In some instances, our cure might be over time as we allow Christ to surgically pare the layers of embeddedness (generational and/or self preservational); or it might be immediate. What is definite is the need for us to address the defiler, preferably urgently. And that is on us, even as followers of Christ.
So – are we so comfortable that we are content with being defiled; or will we resolve to make this a truly New Year by allowing the Blood to cure what defiles us?
Selah
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
