The Heart

The Heart
“There is nothing that goes into a person from the outside which can make him ritually unclean…. It is what comes out a person that makes him unclean.  For from the inside, from a person’s heart, come the evil ideas which lead him to do immoral things, to rob, kill, commit adultery, be greedy, and do all sorts of evil things: deceit, indecency, jealousy, slander, pride and folly – all these evil things come from inside a person and make him unclean. “  (Mark 7: 14 – 23)
I have known for a longtime that correct thought is the key to correct action.  Positive thinking makes for positive results.  I have not always appreciated the truth of the opposite statement.  Evil thoughts lead to evil action.  Before a robbery can be executed, the idea of robbery existed in the mind.  Before adultery, the mind has entertained the idea of adultery.  
How does one keep the heart and mind clean?  The heart is like a tender garden.  Watch it with care so that wild weeds have no opportunity to grow.  Stop the idea that is likely to lead to evil from getting to the heart.  Refuse to fertilize it through repeated thought.  Reject the idea immediately.