Out of Control

Chocolate-Might-Be-Good-For-Your-HeartLiving in the Spirit
August 30, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Then he called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.’… For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’ –Mark 7:14-15, 21-23

I have discovered after close analysis, if I think about eating chocolate as I snack, there is little to deter me from doing so. The decision has been made with just the first thought. Isn’t that sad? Does that potentiality apply to all of life? How do I control such urges? Do I just say like Fred Sanford, “The devil made me do it?” Does giving in once lead to me giving in over and over again? And in the final analysis do I waste precious time worrying about eating chocolate so much I do not do the things that are important?

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with eating chocolate. It is actually good for us in moderation. My response was to include it in my calorie count, which results in my having to deal with determining what I am willing to give up to have my chocolate treat.

This list of evil intentions is desire out of control, but they are all also opportunities for wasting the gifts we have received from God. They divert us from a path of love and righteousness living our lives fully invested in our commitment to the Kingdom of God.

Prayer:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:10-12) Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.