by David Brenneman
"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders." Matthew 15:18-19
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23.
"Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart." Psalms 44:21.
"The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." Proverbs 15:28.
In recent days my thoughts were surrounded by the phrase "that I am the Lord" when I was reading my Bible. All those passages were of all the ways that Jesus was trying to show Israel that He is the Lord and not to rely on their idols.
This morning the phrase out of the heart came to me to think about. Do you think about where your thoughts come from? Do you justify the truthfully negative words that come from it? Justifying your words and actions as you go? Perhaps "all in the name of fun?"
In the last week something serious happened here at my home. Past experience of where we lived lead me to contact the police. So I did.
Social media being what it is...there was every reaction from complete agreement of how we handled it to mockery. Out of their hearts...
This is but one example. These decades you have to really be isolated from society to not know about rivalries. Rivalries between two cities, people's, companies.
Out of the hearts of men and women you can hear the most vial of words that shouldn't be said let alone thought. What's worse is many hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions of people, point to this activity as fun.
I was taught a lesson way early in my life about the dangers of tearing down people with words. It didn't take much for me to see how potent carefully crafted words could reduce people to tears.
Our sin nature comes from the heart. That sin nature remains with us until we all step into eternity. For those who are saved in Christ Jesus their sin nature will be absolutely destroyed. Never to trouble them no more. For those who did not come to Christ for salvation...they'll be reminded of their sins for all eternity by paying for them.
People of this world are increasingly lacking in self restraint. They are easily offended and take to whatever means available to attack others in order to feel better about themselves.
Going back to the rivalries thing...I personally do not get involved with these because I have seen what CAN come out of my heart towards others who disagree with me.
Rivalries tear down people and as said earlier people do it supposedly all in fun. There's no way that anyone is strong enough on their own to not be affected by cut downs. Words used destructively on purpose. It chips away at a person. For those already at a low point in life it shatters them even further.
Regardless of what intentions you have...guard your hearts!
Shut up if you're considering trashing someone. Really.
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29.
"Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor." 1 Corinthians 10:24.
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17.
I have dished out my fair share of trash talk because of a sports rivalry. Conviction hit me hard that I wasn't at all being Christ-like. I was even, truthfully, tearing down other Christians all in the name of supposed fun.
What if there was an unbelieving person watching? Think about that. What are you showing the world about your heart?
Scripture says that we should be doing everything in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
What we do comes out of our hearts.
"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil." Proverbs 4:23-27.
Think before you speak has been a very longstanding bit of advice that's been around for generations.
My prayer for all is that you guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The path to worldly fun is often going to destroy something about someone. Being callous isn't going to be a good excuse.
Guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus...out of the heart...
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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