Iron Filings

I came across this passage as I was studying and meditating on the subject of water.

"And he said, 'Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.' " - Matthew 15:16-20 ESV

"And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh," - Ezekiel 11:19 ESV

Our world has a lot of water in it. We are made hydrated creatures. Jesus makes references to water in many places. Water is very unique in it's properties.

"And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?' " - Mark 4:36-41 ESV

Scholars say that the storm was a demonic assassination attempt. The scripture does not verify this.

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." - Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV

But then I must return to the concept that we are not defiled but what we ingest. Our heart speaks of our nature. What passes through it does not form it.

If you put iron filings on a white piece of paper then place a magnetic under that paper those filings will order themselves according to that magnetic field. The stronger the magnet is the more ordered those filings will be. If the magnet moves then the filings will move in a group also. If the magnet is removed the order will crumble into relative disorder again.

When I see formerly disorganized groups moving together I think of this principle. Groups of people and individuals can become similarly energized. It isn't magnetism but the natural man can be moved by forces also.

"May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." - 2 Peter 1:2-4 ESV

God has given us precious promises and by them we escape this magnetism because we become partakers. The Greek word translated partaker here is koinonos (Strong's G2844). It speaks of a companion that shares in a mutual provision. Our mutual provision is the divine nature.

That spiritual person is not magnetized to the degree that the natural man is magnetized.

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

We feel the tug of the world but God has given us His book so that we might answer a different call. His call is never abusive. He draws us with love. His gentleness makes us great.

Thank you God for this great way of escape! You speak peace to our hearts and we are made still again.

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