THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 12:33-37
“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.
We do not create ‘out of nothing’, but we do create from what God has created.
Adam’s task was to name the animals, signifying his authority (Genesis 2:19-20).
But we name more than animals, we name everything, assign words to communicate.
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 negative when he rebukes the religious leaders (brood of vipers).
He is warning them that they are echoing the thoughts and words of Satan (a viper is a serpent).
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?
We can’t stop Satan from whispering his lies, but we can name him LIAR instead of believing him.
Every time we echo his lies, we are creating our world, but not in a good way.
Words have power, they shape our own lives as well as the lives of others – for good or bad.
Jesus is warning us about how our words will make or break us, will lift us or bring us down.
This is NOT a judgment, He loves us enough to warn us seriously.
We all need to take careful thought to how our thoughts and words shape our lives, and God’s world.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, lately I realize my thoughts and words regarding my situation have been negative and defeatist. Help me to see that this is not helping me, nor making my world a better place.
You can not tell about a book by its cover nor can you tell that a tree is healthy unless it continues to bear good fruit year after year. There could be decay, unwholeness, rottenness within. And what is inside a person will also determine what kind of fruit will be produced. Our daily actions and speech show what lives inside our hearts. At all times we need to think before we speak – putting mind in gear before mouth in motion.
Each day anew I must ‘dress’ myself with the armour of God so that I can produce good fruit. When God takes my all in all – heart and mind and will, action, desires, affections so that my knowing = my loving = my doing – then I am capable to do His will and what is pleasing in His sight.
GodPower.
SpiritDriven.
SpiritLed.
Serving my Lord.
The fruit of the Spirit’s not a coconut
(watermelon, lemon, banana, etc.)
The fruit of the Spirit’s not a coconut
If you want to be a coconut
You might as well hear it
Cause it can’t be a fruit of the Spirit
Cause the fruits are love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness
and self-control
Cause the fruits are love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness
and self-control.