Matching words and life with thoughts

In chatting with one of our sons, I shared the difficulty of selecting who to vote for in a coming civic election. If only I could know the heart of each candidate. 

This morning I’m thinking how important it is to know my own heart, to pay attention to what is important to me, and to make sure what I do and say comes from a pure heart. 

Jesus said much about the heart. Of His own, He described it: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) Of mine He says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) 

Speaking to many, a warning to those who reject Him He says:

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:34–37)

When I think about anything, it is apt to show up in words. I know that everyone is not like that. Some say what they think is ‘proper’ or will be accepted or of interest to others, but it may not match what is on the inside. I’ve done this too. Who has not been asked how they look and been told, “Just fine” when the speaker is thinking otherwise?

Jesus says that in the final judgment, people will be judged by their words, yet He also says words come from the heart. That does not exonerate those who speak one thing and think another. Judgment isn’t about ‘correct’ speech but about integrity. If words do not match the heart, that is just as dangerous as those who curse and swear all the time. Jesus also said: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (Matthew 15:8)

He knows and I know too that “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person…” (Matthew 15:19–20) He gets specific with: “I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)

On the positive side, the Word of God says to those wanting to be a person of integrity, there is peace of mind when our hearts focus on good things:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8–9)
The bottom line is even more desirable than that peace because Jesus also said: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

PRAY: In that last line, I’m thinking this is not only about a future vision of You when I cross over to my eternal home. (See 1 John 3:1-3) It seems to hold out a reality that the purer my heart and mind, the more You are in the realm of my inner vision. I cannot see You in a literal sense, yet the sense of Your presence is stronger and more vivid when my heart is not cluttered up with the things of this life, and certainly not with sinful and ‘stinkin’ thinking. Fill me with thoughts of You and give me words that honor You!
 

Not the most popular character trait . . .

 

 

Today’s word has a bad reputation. Many people associate it with ‘wimpy’ or fearful weakness, yet MEEK describes Jesus Christ who is none of those things.

It also describes Moses in Numbers 12:3. “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” He was far from wimpy. Instead, this word is about  a lowly, pious, and modest mind, which prefers to bear injuries rather than return them. That takes strength rather than fearful weakness.

David also used this concept to describe God both in 2 Samuel and the Psalms. He said, “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.”

In the NT, this describes Jesus and He even used the word meek to describe Himself. Here, and in many cases it is translated gentle.

Matthew 11:29. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Even the readers of that day thought being noted for meekness or modesty was a weakness. Yet this describes God the Son, a perfect human without sin. Some say meekness is the best described as strength under control, like a wild stallion that has been tamed. There is power behind true meekness!

This word and its often used synonym, gentleness, means to approach others (including one’s enemies) in a humble and caring spirit, not using force to get one’s way. It is being like Christ and should characterize Christians, particularly since it is included as one of the nine characteristics of the fruit of the God’s Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

It is also descriptive of the wisdom of God. James 3:13 asks and answers, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” Then James describes the opposite which is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” and causes “disorder and every vile practice.” He contrast this fleshy wisdom with godly wisdom that includes humble and lenient gentleness:

James 3:17–18. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Is there a difference between meekness and gentleness? Paul uses both words in 2 Corinthians 10:1 to describe Jesus as the source of his own attitude:

“I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!”

My dictionary says meekness (often translated gentleness) means “acting in a manner that is gentle, mild, and even-tempered” whereas in this verse, gentleness means “leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person charged with administering justice.” The first is a general way of being in all situations, while the second word means the same thing but is more specific in who and why meekness is shown.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Jesus, because He died and rose again, purchased my redemption. He did this in meekness, accepting the wrong done to Him because in the eyes of God it was the only way to save sinners. As my Savior, He treats me with gentleness, even during those times I describe as being “booted in the backside and hugged at the same time.” It is His attitude of choice toward His children. As I focus on this, my attitude toward others cannot hold on to things like anger, resentment, bitterness, accusation, etc. Jesus is not like that, and because God is at work to transform me into the image of His Son, then this unpopular word meekness needs to be part of who I am.