A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45 KJV
Context:
This is Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount, which was extensively covered in Matthew. The lessons are the same: Jesus speaks to his disciples, not the crowd that followed him. His standards are not optional or negotiable; he does not force himself on anyone, but if you would walk with him, you have to follow his principles. It is not a popularity contest so if you are looking for a crowd to support it before you follow it, then you do not know what God has called his own to. All who will truly follow God must align with his standards.
Message and Response:
Today's extract speaks to the power of the seed and time. It does not matter how long I hide the seed or store it up away from prying eyes; the moment it enters the ground, the very place of its manifestation and revelation, it is on the way to being exposed for what it is. I can call it a grain of corn, but when the full exposure comes, no one has to be told what it is I have planted.
Just as it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. We think we can give off positive or spiritual vibes, hit the right notes and say the right words and all will fall in place, but when it comes to God, it does not work that way. When you work for a treasure, it takes time, patience and effort. You can control a few things, and a few things are outside your control, but one thing is clear: there is a part I must play in the preparation for treasure. Have I prepared the safe place where the treasure will be stored, away from all who may seek to steal it? Have I taken time to search out for the best place where the treasure may be located? Do I know the value of that which I seek?
When a good man brings out that which is good from the good treasure in his heart, it did not happen overnight or by accident. That was the result of investing time in getting the right materials into his heart. We allow junk into our hearts, then when it is time to draw out from the heart, we are surprised to find junk there. Pray, what did you spend time storing up? By God's own standard, you cannot give what you do not have. The only credit card that works for me is the grace of God, whereby I can draw freely and without price. However, for everything else, I have to work at it. I cannot draw out of an account that which I did not put in. Even if the world is able to give me that which I did not put in, there is a price to pay, and it is usually a heavy one.
The heart is that battleground, where all of these things happen. It is that place no physical eyes see, yet all that comes from it is obvious to God. Man can be deceived by all the hypocrisy and lies the fallen human nature is capable of, but there can be no deceiving God. He made the heart, so all of its drama is laid bare before him. How is my heart then? Is it a place where God can reach in and do his work, or is it my personal property, under my sole control? Is it a place where the seed of God's Word can find fertile ground and then bear fruit? Again I say: you cannot demand that God bless something he has not birthed. If it is not of him, he will not sustain it.
Of course, no matter how long or hard you try to hide it, it will all come out some day and it is usually on the day you open your mouth. The heart and the mouth are connected; as soon as I open my mouth, all that is stored up in my heart is revealed. The Bible says that even a fool is thought wise if he shuts his mouth. With the way the human race works, it is not possible to remain silent all through life. We speak by our words, actions, habits and relationships. The things I consider important are revealed by how I live. The mouth will not speak of that which it does not have, and cannot claim that which it does not know.
What is my mouth speaking at this time? If all you have are curses and harsh words, imagine the state of your heart. If all I can produce is what the devil rejoices at, imagine the state of my heart. If God can recommend me to another person as his child, because he knows that my mouth will reflect that which is his heart, then I am blessed indeed. Guess one of the most important question that I must answer is: what am I spending time investing in and storing up? I had better be sure it is the right stuff, because one day, a demand will be made on this store. May it be that which God accepts and can recommend. His time of favour is here.
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