Mark 7:17-23

 17After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him
about this parable. 18”Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing
that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? 19For it doesn’t
go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this,
Jesus declared all foods “clean.”)
 20He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ 21For
from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft,
murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance
and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ “

Meditation
1. We are sanctified and become holy not because of our outward behavior,
but because Christ has renewed our minds, reformed us in his image. Any
evil behavior begins with an idea. If we allow our thought life immersed in
desires, jealousy, hatred and bitterness, eventually we will sin.
2. Continue the practice of solitude and silence from yesterday. Take time to
rest and to be silent. Ask the Holy Spirit to examine my inner thoughts. Is
there a need for cleansing? Pray to God and ask Him to cleanse my inner
wickedness.

Personal Notes:
We are cleansed because inwardly our mind has been renewed to be in Jesus Christ's likeness.  By the way, the theme for TC this year is "Cleansed".  As a leader in TC, there are many areas in my life that needs cleansing.  Currently, I need to be cleansed from doubt and a lack of faith.  I need to be cleansed from pride of relying on my own strength and envy of people who are capable.  Despite all the blessings from God, why am I still struggling with so much inner wickedness?  It seems that the temptation for wickedness is endless.  I thought that as I grow in Christ and being sanctified (become more like Christ), I would decrease in my inner wickedness.  Having this exercise of solitude and silence allows me to realize and have courage to face my inner wickedness.  I pray to God for healing and cleansing.  I learn that as I grow in my love for God, I realize how wicked I am and I am grateful for the amazing grace.