Friday, March 25, 2011
The Treasury of a Good Heart
"43A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.44A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.45A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart" (Luke 6:43-45, NLT). What's in my treasury? What do I value the most? What have I "stored up"?
Much has been written in Scripture regarding the tongue, and the power therein (life, death, destruction, and building up). This much I know: in my worst conversational moments...the times that I have blurted, blabbed or bloviated, I was often speaking out of pettiness, frustration, jealousy, moodiness, or in anger. Jesus says that this what I had stored up in the treasury of my heart! (Now, I've justified it at times by saying that in my formative years I was encouraged to speak my mind. The truth is that this has gotten me more into trouble than it has ever gotten me out of trouble. Can you relate?)
So, how do we store "good things" in our heart? Paul gave the Philippians this instruction: "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8, NIV). What we dwell on - what we think about - is stored away in the treasury of our heart.
We "invest" (or is it "ingest") a lot of things into our heart. I know that it's mixing a metaphor, but the progression goes something like this: Sow a thought. Reap an action. Sow an action. Reap a habit. Sow a habit. Reap a destiny. This is why God's Word advises us to: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23, NIV)!
My grandmother used to pray, "God, put a hot coal of fire on my tongue." I know exactly what she meant - "God, sear those words before they leave my mouth and hurt someone!" As a preacher, I speak for a living and if I am going to represent Jesus accurately and preach His Word with integrity, I must guard my heart from the things that taint and corrupt. I must fill the heart treasury with "good things" that will nourish and bless others. This doesn't just happen on Saturday nights - before I preach on Sunday morning, it is an investment that must occur all week long!
Are you willing to ask God to do an audit of your treasury and pray this with me today?
"Heavenly Father, we pray like the Psalmist - '23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting' (Psalm 139:23-24). I want to be a tree that produces good fruit - the fruit of Your Spirit. Let my words nurture and build up those that You have placed in my life. Forgive my petty hoarding of things that are temporary and worthless. I want to fill my treasury - my heart - with the things that You value most. Remind me that my life is not my own and let it flourish with fruit that remains. Not so that I am gratified in any way, but so that You are glorified and that others would come to know You through me."
For further study and reflection, check out what Jesus says in John 15 regarding the vine and the branches.
So, how do we store "good things" in our heart? Paul gave the Philippians this instruction: "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8, NIV). What we dwell on - what we think about - is stored away in the treasury of our heart.
We "invest" (or is it "ingest") a lot of things into our heart. I know that it's mixing a metaphor, but the progression goes something like this: Sow a thought. Reap an action. Sow an action. Reap a habit. Sow a habit. Reap a destiny. This is why God's Word advises us to: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23, NIV)!
My grandmother used to pray, "God, put a hot coal of fire on my tongue." I know exactly what she meant - "God, sear those words before they leave my mouth and hurt someone!" As a preacher, I speak for a living and if I am going to represent Jesus accurately and preach His Word with integrity, I must guard my heart from the things that taint and corrupt. I must fill the heart treasury with "good things" that will nourish and bless others. This doesn't just happen on Saturday nights - before I preach on Sunday morning, it is an investment that must occur all week long!
Are you willing to ask God to do an audit of your treasury and pray this with me today?
"Heavenly Father, we pray like the Psalmist - '23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting' (Psalm 139:23-24). I want to be a tree that produces good fruit - the fruit of Your Spirit. Let my words nurture and build up those that You have placed in my life. Forgive my petty hoarding of things that are temporary and worthless. I want to fill my treasury - my heart - with the things that You value most. Remind me that my life is not my own and let it flourish with fruit that remains. Not so that I am gratified in any way, but so that You are glorified and that others would come to know You through me."
For further study and reflection, check out what Jesus says in John 15 regarding the vine and the branches.
Labels: fruit, heart, Luke 6, speech
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
He has Broken the Chains!
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high" (Lev.26:13, ESV). What a wonderful reminder of God's redemptive plan for Israel.
But these words apply to us as well! Jesus put it this way: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). Free indeed. But (yes, there's that infamous qualifier) the challenge is to stay free, isn't it? I believe that the key is found in 2 Corinthians 3:17 - "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
The Holy Spirit helps us to maintain our freedom. He is our Helper. He convicts us of sin and leads us into all truth. The Holy Spirit can help keep us from returning to Egypt - back into the slavery of sin. Listen for God's voice and trust His guidance. Be obedient to His directives and listen for His warnings.
If you're back living in Egypt today - under the yoke of slavery, cry out to God for deliverance. You don't have to live this way! You don't have to live under the burden of guilt and sin. His mercy and forgiveness are still available. Jesus' offer still stands: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV).
Celebrate God's deliverance today. "Christ has really set us free . . ." (Galatians 5:1, NLT). Rejoice, He has broken the chains that held our captive souls!
But these words apply to us as well! Jesus put it this way: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). Free indeed. But (yes, there's that infamous qualifier) the challenge is to stay free, isn't it? I believe that the key is found in 2 Corinthians 3:17 - "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." The Holy Spirit helps us to maintain our freedom. He is our Helper. He convicts us of sin and leads us into all truth. The Holy Spirit can help keep us from returning to Egypt - back into the slavery of sin. Listen for God's voice and trust His guidance. Be obedient to His directives and listen for His warnings.
If you're back living in Egypt today - under the yoke of slavery, cry out to God for deliverance. You don't have to live this way! You don't have to live under the burden of guilt and sin. His mercy and forgiveness are still available. Jesus' offer still stands: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV).
Celebrate God's deliverance today. "Christ has really set us free . . ." (Galatians 5:1, NLT). Rejoice, He has broken the chains that held our captive souls!
Labels: freedom, Holy Spirit, sin
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