Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Matthew 12:30-37 "Heart words"

Read Matthew 12:30-37.

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." NIV
Words are so difficult to control -- at least for me. I've gotten better as I have gotten older, but words can escape my mouth way beyond their bidding. And a hastily spoken word cannot be retrieved. It's out there like a black cloud floating between the conversers and will hover until a better word dispels the darkness. But what really concerns me is this "words coming from the heart" thing. If poorly spoken words come out of my mouth, I know that there is something in my heart that is not right, and I need to get with my Father on it.

In science we learn that something cannot be made from nothing. You must have a beginning substance. For good to come out of my mouth, I must have good within my heart, that fuels my thoughts, that formulates my words. If good is not coming out in my words, then there is sin in my heart that is being revealed through my mouth. That's when I must seek my Father to reveal my sin to me, face that sin as being real, ask for His forgiveness, and turn over that part of my heart to Him. It's sort of like spiritual surgery -- cut out the bad part and replace it with new. Then the body can function as it is designed to do.

Lord, guard my words. If there is anything in my heart that needs excising, please reveal it to me so I can confess and repent. I want my heart sold out to You and You alone. Let my words reflect that commitment.

Further Thoughts:
  1. How does God's Word protect my heart and mouth? Read Psalm 119: 9, 11, 105.
  2. If Christ is the Living Word (John 1:1, 14) and He lives in me, then what words should my mouth produce? If they don't, then there is an area of my heart I have not surrendered to Christ. Ask the Lord if there is an area you need to surrender. He will reveal it to you if you will listen with a humble heart.
  3. This passage used the analogy of the good fruit coming from a good tree. Read John 15:1-17 and Galatians 5:22-26 for more on the fruit.
  4. Psalm 19:14 is a great way to begin every day and every conversation.

2 comments:

  1. "out there like a black cloud floating between the conversers and will hover until a better word dispels the darkness..."

    Is that a simile I see??? Great job! :-)
    lj

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