Let’s Dance: Leading My Words – Monday
Matthew 12:33-34
“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad…For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” (NLT)
Being a follower of Jesus is a constant process of learning to follow where He leads, do what He does, and love as He loves. That’s what our series, Let’s Dance, is all about, and this week we focus our attention on letting Jesus lead our words.
Right out of the gate, we have to agree on one thing: Words matter.
If you were to take an inventory of all the words you said in a day, what would it reveal? The words you say to your kids. To your spouse. Your co-workers. Your neighbors. Angry words? Prideful words? Empty words? Useless words? The problem with all of this is that we can’t just control our words. It would be very easy to take Jon’s sermon and this week’s devotionals and say, “Ok, I’m going to work on my words. I’m going to try harder. I’m going to do better.” But willpower won’t be enough. Trying your best won’t correct you.
Ultimately the only thing that can change your words is if you change what fills your heart. When the Bible talks about “the heart” it is not your emotions, not your good intentions. The “heart” is what you most love, what you most hope in, what gives you meaning, what you’re really putting your trust in. Here’s the takeaway for today: “The heart moves the tongue”
My anatomy and physiology experts may object technically, but I’m with Jesus on this one.
“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad…For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.”
A critical heart produces a critical tongue.
A self-righteous heart produces a judgmental tongue.
A bitter heart produces a cutting tongue.
An ungrateful heart produces a complaining tongue.
But
A loving heart produces a gracious tongue.
A faithful heart produces a truthful tongue.
A peaceful heart produces a reconciling tongue.
A trusting heart produces an encouraging tongue.
So be very aware of what you are filling your heart with. Fill it with words of life from the Bible. Soak in Matthew 5, or Romans 12, or 1 Corinthians 13, or Philippians 2. And be very aware of taking in the words of death in the news, in our music, on TV, or on social media. It’s the old adage, “Garbage in. Garbage out.”
There has to be a spiritual change (in the heart) before there can be a verbal change (in the mouth).
When it comes to our words…it’s never a quick fix…but it’s also never too late to make a change.
Monday’s Reflection
Start this week by taking an inventory of the words you say and talk to God about what they reveal about what you’re filling your heart with. Make Psalm 19:14 your prayer today: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you LORD.”
