“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks,” Luke 6:45 NKJV. What I inwardly value, wish for, ponder, contemplate, daydream, or give more than a passing thought ultimately drives what I outwardly say and do. It is straightforward, garbage in, garbage out, good stuff in, good stuff out. Psalm 1:1-2 ESV proclaims: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night.” Jesus demonstrated to us how His inner life allowed Him to effectively minister among the worst of sinners while simultaneously exposing the hypocrisy of the outwardly religious. LORD, help me keep it real. May my love for You be genuine and my love for others be pure.
A serious pursuit of godliness requires an equally serious renunciation of worldliness. Too often, we measure spirituality with false scales. While being wisely selective with our public vices we are less so with our private attitudes and perspectives. In reality, it is the thoughts and intents of the heart where the greatest battles must be waged; our actions will ultimately align with the condition of our hearts. Lord God, You know me inside out, You are not fooled by human facades. Plow my heart with Your Word and Spirit and leave nothing unturned. Refresh my inward man that I may outwardly glorify You in all places at all times.
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