by David Brenneman
Peter said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.” Jesus said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? 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. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” Matthew 15:15-20.
"Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power. For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory. Wisdom is too exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate. One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer." Proverbs 24:1-8.
"If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?" Proverbs 24:12.
What comes from your heart can't be contained...ever think about that?
"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37.
What's coming forth from yours?
What shines in your life? Is it you or is it Jesus?
Jesus not only taught about what comes out of the heart but He also taught to be careful of how you listen. What you listen to instigated, or rather more aptly agitates, your heart.
When your heart is stirring, what comes out of it?
Something happens, something gets said, to agitate it...what comes from it?
Look at the Gospels from a different perspective. Look at what comes out of the hearts of the people Jesus interacts with when He stirs their hearts.
You, my Dear Reader, are no different than the Disciples. You are being taught by the Spirit, hopefully, and your heart will bring forth whatever is in it.
Someone once put it that it's much easier for a good person to portray a bad person than it is for a bad person to portray a good person.
Truthfully good can be faked or imagined but genuine good from the heart that mirrors Christ is impossible. Many will talk about what all they did in Jesus's Name but the frauds they are will be revealed by Jesus by the words of His revealing of truth.
What comes from your heart?
What goes into your heart?
Do you feed it daily with the Word of God, Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs?
Do you feed it secular music, games, movies, facts and figures, fiction even, that do nothing to fill your heart with the things of God that make for a life well pleasing to Him?
It's much to my own shame that I do have a ton of information in my head that is useless towards the Kingdom of God. The wasted times from my youth that weren't invested better in studying God's Word.
Guard your hearts is taught over and over again in the New Testament.
Take time today and see what's going in and out of your heart.
Perhaps today is the day you need to have a heart-to-heart with yourself and Jesus about it.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment