Wednesday June 18, 2003

~ Wash that sucker out with soap… ~

   “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. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

— Matthew 12:33-37 (NIV) —

     What kind of fruit do we bear? When a tree matures… it will bear fruit. And each tree can be easily recognized by its fruit. What kind of fruits do we bear? hatred, jealousy, rage, ambition, envy, drunkenness, sexual immorality and impurity? Or is it love, joy, patience, gentleness and self-control? (~ Gal 5:19-23) This tree is certainly evil. One evil is more than enough… just like a drop of oil can pollute gallons of pure water… one fruit of evil makes me an evil person and I know I have bore more than one… Convicted. Can anyone squirm past this one?

     “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” – This part sums it all up. The words comming out of your mouth identify the condition of your heart. Just like a doctor takes a tongue depressor and tells you to go aaaahhh…., Jesus says he can take a look at your tongue and see the sickness in your heart (sin…) Looking at my harsh words and how I revel in destroying the foundations that unbelievers stand upon… yes, I’ve got problems… serious problems, it’s called sin. And only God’s got the meds for this sickness.

     We store these things inside… hatred, love, jealousy, gentleness, drunkness, patience, and then through our actions/words, we bring these things to light. If we do not clean out the inside and only clean the outside (image of holiness) we are not fooling anyone… especially not God. (~Matt 23:27-28)

     The day of judgement, when everything comes out into the open and all things, good and evil… done publically and secretly will be brought before God for judgement. There is no doubt, all of us will be found lacking. But those who follow Jesus seek to follow perfection, so this is the standard, set by the Big Man himself: “men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word”. We need to take care to always speak the truth, and not just the truth by itself, but truth coupled with love and grace. Jesus was very careful of the words he spoke. Sometimes there was even lapses of silence before responses… Can Christians aim to do less?

Father, forgive me… my words that hurt and injure.. and not words that draw people closer to Your heart, Lord. Teach me about love, teach me about grace… and teach me to speak truth when I ought… and to temper it with the love and grace, so my words can be pleasing to You. Thank you for a brother who encourages and rebukes. Thank you for sisters who seek Your face. Thank you especially for the hope that I have, because you came for me… I pray all this in the name of the Master, Jesus, Amen.