READING:
One-year plan: Genesis 47–50, Matthew 14:34–15:20
Two-year plan: Genesis 26:12–35, Matthew 9:9–26
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If you were to walk with me non-stop for the next seven days, I hope you would learn something about me by watching my priorities—priorities that I trust are simply living out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. You’d probably learn about me by observing what I read, what I watch on TV, what I listen to on the radio, what searches I embark upon on my computer. You’d learn my heart by watching how I treat my wife. With all those possibilities, though, I suspect you can learn even more by listening to how I speak, by paying attention to what comes out of my mouth.
I’ve learned over the years that words spoken in back-room conversations are often more reflective of one’s heart than any words spoken to large, adoring crowds. What comes out of our mouth really does reveal our inner being, just as Jesus told us.
Jesus was not limiting His application to only our words, of course — for our heart is revealed in our will, our actions, our thoughts, and our desires as well — but surely He was not ignoring our words. To pretend that our words don’t somehow reflect our heart is to lie to ourselves. To speak one way in private and another way in public is simply hypocritical.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: What do your words reveal about you?
PRAYER: “God, let what comes out of my mouth reveal a heart in love with You.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Exodus 1–3, Matthew 15:21–16:12
Two-year plan: Genesis 27–28, Matthew 9:27–38
*first published in 2015
