Lesson 325: "Evil Thoughts"
Mark 7:21 states that evil thoughts come out of a man’s heart. Is this the devil putting thoughts in our heads? Is God upset with these thoughts even though we cannot seemly control them?
I believe the devil would love the credit for putting evil thoughts in our hearts and minds. He surely can change our way of thinking by twisting the scripture just enough to get us confused as he did Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:4-5). However, when we ACT on our evil thoughts then we are attempting to deflect our personal responsibility by blaming the devil or someone else. God is not “upset” or angry with these thoughts but rather our disobedience in acting on these thoughts. God is angry with us because we have suppressed the truth about God, who He is and what our relationship with Him requires (Rom. 1:18-32). Then, as Paul puts it, the wrath of God is operating in our lives. Taking control of our thoughts is essential (Pro. 4:23). Being tempted is a thought entering our minds and we cannot stop this. However, sinning is dwelling upon that thought and perhaps allowing it to control our actions and we can stop this! Replace thoughts with the Word of God (Eph. 4:22-32, Matt. 5:44, Eph. 4:28, 1 Tim. 5:2)!
We are in a spiritual warfare and resisting the devil continually. Whether he knows our thoughts or puts thoughts into our minds and hearts is not clear in scripture. However, we are told repeatedly to resist the devil by being alert (1 Pet. 5:8-9), talk to God (Matt. 26:41), trust God for power to resist evil (1 John 5:4) and set our minds on things above (Col. 3:1). A person is defiled morally by what he thinks in his heart even though he may scrupulously observe outward purity rituals.. So Jesus contradicted the Rabbinic view by stating that sin proceeds from within and not from without (Mark 7:15). Jesus repeated and amplified the positive truth that what comes out of a person is what defiles him morally. This confirmed by noting what things come from within, out of a person’s heart (Mark 7:19-23).
God searches our hearts (Rom. 8:27) and nothing is hidden from Him (Heb. 4:13). Man looks at outward appearances but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7) and if David had cherished sin in his heart the Lord would not have heard his prayer (Ps. 66:18). Remember these things and talk to God immediately when these thoughts come into your mind and heart. He already knows what we are thinking and it is a simple matter to ask forgiveness as soon as the thought crosses our mind. The Lord does not hold grudges and when we ask forgiveness for our thoughts He is just and faithful and will forgive (1 John 1:19). God will not ask us to do anything that He will not do so when Jesus said we should forgive 7x70 (Matt. 18:22) then He too will forgive so many times we will lose count. Paul said; “I think myself happy” (Acts 26:2 King James Version).