Luke 6:45 | considering the word

Pr. 23:7: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Sometimes we trick ourselves into believing that our thoughts can’t harm anyone. No one knows about them, after all. We can think what we want, no one will be the wiser, and we can put on whatever face for others that we need to.

The truth is, however, that our thoughts will eventually show. Maybe it’s the way we react to someone or something. Maybe it’s the way we greet someone. Perhaps it’s a choice we make that when our guard is down.

Most often, though, our thoughts break out in our words. It can happen at any time. In fact, in Luke 6:45, Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

We may be able to fake it for a while, but what is really in our hearts will eventually come out of our mouths. This is why we must feed ourselves good things. Paul told the Philippians to meditate on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, praiseworthy, and that have virtue. Those things will definitely put good treasure within our hearts. When that happens, then the abundance that comes out of our mouths won’t be anything we should have to worry about.

What has been coming out of your mouth or been typed by your fingers? Those things are coming from the abundance of your heart. They are indicators as to what your heart is full of.

So what do you think in your heart? That is who you are. Is that statement upsetting? Perhaps this is the time to begin meditating on new things. The word of God is a good place to start.

It’s like when the indicator light is on in our car. We know it’s time to get something fixed. It happens. We all have to examine the indicators in our lives from time to time. We just need to be responsible enough to admit that something needs fixed.

We can then go boldly to the throne of grace in our time of need and find the mercy and grace we need to help to make the changes that need to be made. The Lord can renew our minds and create within us clean hearts once again.

Renewed,

jamie

Pr. 12:13: “The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous will come through trouble.”

I’ve been thinking about yellow jackets all day long. When I read this Proverb this morning, I immediately remembered an incident that happened to me in high school. One afternoon a group of kids in my youth group jumped on me in the yard of the church and began holding me down and tickling me. I very much dislike being tickled, and it was torture. I sincerely begged for them to stop, but they only seemed encouraged and would not relent.

Suddenly a swarm of yellow jackets came out of the ground and began stinging them all. I was untouched.

This Proverb reminds me of that event. One can’t help but wonder if perhaps those kids were punished for their actions towards me. I’m not saying I was perfect and they were horrible human beings, but I was the one being tormented in that moment, and I certainly came through trouble without a single sting. Did they set a trap for themselves?

Our words are a choice that we make. We can choose to allow transgression to flow forth from our lips, and become ensnared by the trap we’ve set; or we can allow righteousness to prevail, ensuring that we come through trouble.

It certainly isn’t always simple to speak right words, but as Luke 6:45 reminds us, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Ensuring that we are filling our hearts with righteous things will definitely help our chances of speaking righteousness over transgression. And that will help us come through trouble.

Trying not to get stung,

jamie