January 18

These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him. — Matt 15:20 BSB

It’s good to have clean hands, but it’s even more important to have a clean heart. Some people are very careful about outward appearances, but they neglect the true moral quality of their lives. It’s our inner life that shapes our character. A bad heart ruins everything; it’s a source of impurity.

There’s a story about a lady who touched up a photograph of a dead child, making it look lifelike. But after a few days, blotches appeared on the picture because something in the paper ruined the image. Similarly, bad qualities in a person’s heart can rise to the surface, spoiling even the finest manners and appearances.

The Syrophoenician woman wouldn’t leave Jesus until He healed her child. We often give up too easily when answers don’t come quickly. Her persistence paid off, and so can ours.