PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 12:33-37
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“By your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37)
God created us in His image, and part of that is creating this world with words.
Adam’s task was to name the animals, signifying his authority (Genesis 2:19-20).
But we name more than animals, we name (assign words to communicate) everything!
But what if we name evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20)?
What if we speak death with our words, not life (Proverbs 18:21)?
“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Matthew 12:34)
Jesus is not being harsh when He rebukes the religious leaders (brood of vipers).
He is showing how they are echoing the words of Satan (a viper is a serpent).
We can’t stop Satan from lying, but we can name him LIAR instead of believing him.
Do my words reflect the life and light of God or the lies of Satan?
What if I am complaining all the time, what is my heart full of?
What if my words are negative, doubtful, dark, gloomy, what is my heart like?
Words have power, they shape our world, for good or for bad.
Jesus is gently challenging me to think about the world I create with my words.
PRAYER
Lord, I do a lot of talking. My words can build up, or tear down. They can heal, or hurt. Help me to think before I speak, and to season all my words with grace.
I am reminded that good comes from good treasure of the heart, and for the fruit of my hands to be good my tree must be good. Lord help me focus on “who” I am in You, rather than “what” I can do for You.
More giving – less taking. Like a tree gives us so much – shade, oxygenates the air, gives fruits or nuts or ultimately lumber/firewood – I too am here to give – life in it’s fullness is giving. How can I give more “good” by serving, by loving, by encouraging using actions and words! Help me give “good” in gratitude for and by the example of Jesus – whose actions and words encourage me!
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34
The words I say are like a thermometer of my heart’s condition. Lord Jesus, help me to align my heart with Yours so that the words I say will bring encouragement and love to those around me.
Thank you Lord Jesus for the reminder of the power of words that can come out of the overflow of my heart. Forgive me for those words I said that hurt and discoiraged the hearer. Forgive me for not speaking those words that could have built or encouraged the hearer.
Hoy Spirit help my heart to overflow with the love and joy of the Lord. Help me to think only of truth, pure, lovely, admirable, noble, and anything praiseworthy. I can’t do this by myself I need you Lord Jesus.
Charles Read said: “Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
This growth does not happen overnight. Producing good fruit takes a life time. But my will, thoughts, desires, actions, words, deeds all need to be in tune with God. My heart must be for His service for out of the heart come the issues of life. All I do needs to be pleasing unto Him and that is only a possibility when He reigns in my heart.
Apples don’t grow on pear trees
Apples don’t grow on pear trees
Apples don’t grow on pear trees
No apples there! it only grows pears
Bananas don’t grow on plum trees
Bananas don’t grow on plum trees
Bananas don’t grow on plum trees
No ‘nanas come! They only grow plums.
Your heart is where the words of your mouth grow
Your mouth is where the thoughts of your heart go
Jesus, change our hearts to bear,
To bear good fruit