MONDAY
For the devotionals this week and next week we are going to be looking again at what we talked about in this campaign. Some of these topics we talked about almost 3 months ago. So its worth a refresher.
We started this campaign by reflecting not on what the words we say say to others, but what they say about ourselves. Jesus says,
Matthew 12:33–37 33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The burning conclusion from this Jesus’ words is that our words generally, over time, will reveal what is in our hearts. If we find our words to be full of blessing, goodness, encouragement and truth that indicates a good heart. Conversely, if we find our words to be full of evil that reveals a corrupt heart. We need a new heart. This is the hope of the gospel. God promises to give his people a new heart. From this new heart, good words will flow. So, if you find you say things that are hurtful, slanderous, untrue, angry, bitter, and resentful, the place to begin is to plead with God to give you a new heart, to put his Spirit within you to transform your will and your whole inner life.
Our words don’t originate from nowhere. They originate from your heart. Pray that you would desire him above all else. Desperately ask God to transform your heart. Practice examining your heart and inviting the Spirit to transform the cold, calloused areas of your inner life. From this transformed heart, you will begin to speak words of goodness. The words you speak don’t just communicate a message to others, they reveal who you really are in your inner life.