A Matter of the Heart
"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34b
It's Friday morning! How has the "Challenge" worked for you (or on you!) this week? Hopefully, you had, and took advantage of, many opportunities to intentionally speak grace into the lives of others. And, hopefully, someone did that for you.
For many of you, Friday signals the end of the work week. Where has it been the most difficult to live out the "Challenge", at home or at work?
One final thought I want us to consider as we approach the weekend regarding our words... The religious leaders of Jesus day accused Him of doing the works He did through the power of Satan. Jesus said, such a statement reflects the wickedness that resided in their hearts. In fact, Jesus went on to say...
"for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" Matthew 12:37
Jesus is not saying that meerly changing our speech, our words, or our vocabulary will make us right with God, but our words are an indicator and evidence if our heart IS right with God. Our words are a symptom of what is going on in the heart.
We have all had the experience of treating the symptoms of an illness without getting the cure. We know there is no cure for the common cold, but there are plenty of medications that treat symptoms. If my speech is continually abrasive, corrupt and harsh, I can know, it not an issue of habit, it is an issue of heart. But, the same can be said if my words are kind, caring, loving and encouraging, it is not an issue of habit, but an issue of heart. God is not interested in just changing my vocabulary, He desires to change my heart! That tranformation involves, not just the surrender of my tongue, but my total person...
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this worls, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2
I pray you have a great weekend. If you can, tune into to Moody Radio Cleveland WCRF, 103.3 FM on Monday at 8:05a, as Mark Zimmerman and I talk about how the Ephesians 4:29 Challenge went.
Randy
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