Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’

Mark 7:6-7

Is it possible to be religious and spiritual, yet not be close to God?

These people speak very prettily about the Lord but they have no love for Him at all. Their worship is a farce, for they claim God commands the people to obey their petty rules. Mark 7:6b-7a (TLB)

When He looks at me does He see a person who:

• Attends church, but whose heart is far from Him.
• Reads their Bible, but whose heart is far from Him.
• Prays with the right words, but whose heart is far from Him.
• Gives generously, but whose heart is far from Him.
• Serves in ministry, but whose heart is far from Him.
• Worship enthusiastically, but whose heart is far from Him.
• Shares religious stories, but whose heart is far from Him.

Proverbs 4:23

• Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (NLT)
• Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (ESV)
• Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. (NASB 1995)

This means being vigilant about what you allow into your heart and mind, as it shapes your character and decisions.

What does guard your heart mean?

I wonder whose house Jesus went into. I wonder what the owners thought.

Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used.
Mark 7:17

Guard my heart with diligence, so when God sees me He doesn’t see an actor.