What's in There

What's in There?

Jesus said, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

Conversations filled with crude jokes, gossip, vulgar arguments, verbal assaults on government, politicians, bosses, co-workers, neighbors, etc. simply reveals a storehouse full of garbage and filth.

Are the words flowing forth from of our hearts to our lips the kind that are edifying, uplifting, and transformative? Jesus said, "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

Jesus’ brother, James, wrote, “...take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”

In Ephesians Paul wrote, “Don’t let even one rotten word seep out of your mouths. Instead, offer only fresh words that build others up when they need it most. That way your good words will communicate grace to those who hear them.”

Elsewhere, in Philippians, Paul wrote, "Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom your shine like stars in the world."

Are we shining like brilliant lights in a sea of darkness pointing those who are dead in their sin to Christ our Savior?

If not, let’s look in the storehouses of our hearts and see what’s inside. Are they filled with good fruit that gushes forth from the Source and Wellspring of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?

Commuting to church services, listening to sermons, helping with community service projects or mission trips, serving on boards and committees, etc., do nothing to transform us. Transformation is transcendent and only comes from believing, knowing, and trusting in Christ.

When we look at the fruit of our storehouse it reveals the condition of our hearts. If we find an absence of good fruit there then we can turn to the Jesus. He is the One who brings the good stuff from heaven in abundance to those who invite Him to reign as Sovereign in their lives and obediently follow hard after Him.

His eternal storehouse of goodness then becomes ours!

Blessings,

-Kevin