Words employed for the profit of God's kingdom!
Posted by Colleene at 7/15/2009 10:52 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: words Matthew 12:33-37 gossip good fruit idleness edifying speech Holy Spirit talk speech backbiting Jesus
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: words Matthew 12:33-37 gossip good fruit idleness edifying speech Holy Spirit talk speech backbiting Jesus
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:33-37)
This was the passage in focus at our last Ladies' Night meeting for July. I just want to share a couple of the tidbits that we meditated upon during our study. It was definitely a time of deep conviction and repentance as I prepared to teach on this text. I pray that your heart is uplifted and changed as was mine through studying this passage of Scripture.
In this passage, Jesus addressed a group of unredeemed sinners, namely the Pharisees. All the truths he spoke to them are profitable for rebuke, reproof, and sound teaching for my heart and the hearts of all Christians. Jesus told these Pharisees that they were the offspring of a venemous snake, namely Satan...and because their hearts were evil, they were incapable of speaking any good words. Jesus told them that their mouths were a vent for the overflow of that which was super-abundant in their hearts. He also told them that all men have a storehouse inside them -- a precious deposit filled with that which they treasure. For evil men, their treasure was rotten, putrid, vile -- so that which flowed out of them was the same. For the 'good' man, His treasure was good and beautiful -- so his overflow was just that -- good and beautiful. Jesus also made clear to these wicked men that they would stand accountable on judgment day for every 'idle' word they'd ever spoken and that these very words would either justify or condemn them.
As a follower of Christ, this text made me look at my heart and evaluate the words that proceed from my mouth -- or the fruit which is borne on my tree. It drove me to ask myself questions like,
"Do my words reflect Christ who lives within me?"
"What is in my storehouse filled with...what (or who) is my precious deposit?"
"Do I purposefully employ my words for the edification of my brethren and the glory of Christ?"
"What about the thoughts that run through my mind...those are words, since we as speaking beings think in words, not abstractly. Do these words in my mind reflect Christ or the world in which I live?"
"Are many of my words 'idle' (of no benefit to anyone or the kingdom of God)?"
"Do I thoughtfully consider the implications and ramifications of my words before they come forth from my mouth? Am I sifting them through Scripture?"
"If a non-Christian were listening to me talk, would they have any idea that Christ is my highest treasure...and if not, then is He really as highly treasured as I claim He is in my heart?"
"What do my words testify about my walk with Christ?"
Of course, God uses His Word to bring conviction in the hearts of believers, that they continually be changed and sanctified in their walk with Christ. Passages such as this drive us to our knees, reminding us that we need a Savior every minute of every day. Texts such as this bring to our memory that every idle word spoken, every evil thought that darts across our minds, every conversation that revolves around worldly rather than godly matters has been nailed to the cross. I know that I have many times spoken words that had no kingdom purpose. I have certainly thought things too evil to mention. For these I repent before God and beg Him to change my heart so that every word which passes from my lips or darts through my mind may be edifiying to brethren, glorifying to Christ, and a beacon for unsaved persons - leading them to the cross where Jesus died.
This text also reminds me that as a mother, I have a unique and beautiful opportunity to fill my son's storehouse with the precious deposit of godly teaching, Scripture memory, and a Biblical worldview that may all help him to walk with Christ. As parents, even if God does not choose to save our children, we are called to do this ministry as unto the Lord. A storehouse filled with godly things will be profitable for our kids, whether or not God saves them. Of course, we pray that God does redeem them and by our teaching, they will then have a firm foundation on which to build. We pray that they will be used mightily for and by the Lord.
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)
"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." (Colossians 4:6)
This was the passage in focus at our last Ladies' Night meeting for July. I just want to share a couple of the tidbits that we meditated upon during our study. It was definitely a time of deep conviction and repentance as I prepared to teach on this text. I pray that your heart is uplifted and changed as was mine through studying this passage of Scripture.
In this passage, Jesus addressed a group of unredeemed sinners, namely the Pharisees. All the truths he spoke to them are profitable for rebuke, reproof, and sound teaching for my heart and the hearts of all Christians. Jesus told these Pharisees that they were the offspring of a venemous snake, namely Satan...and because their hearts were evil, they were incapable of speaking any good words. Jesus told them that their mouths were a vent for the overflow of that which was super-abundant in their hearts. He also told them that all men have a storehouse inside them -- a precious deposit filled with that which they treasure. For evil men, their treasure was rotten, putrid, vile -- so that which flowed out of them was the same. For the 'good' man, His treasure was good and beautiful -- so his overflow was just that -- good and beautiful. Jesus also made clear to these wicked men that they would stand accountable on judgment day for every 'idle' word they'd ever spoken and that these very words would either justify or condemn them.
As a follower of Christ, this text made me look at my heart and evaluate the words that proceed from my mouth -- or the fruit which is borne on my tree. It drove me to ask myself questions like,
"Do my words reflect Christ who lives within me?"
"What is in my storehouse filled with...what (or who) is my precious deposit?"
"Do I purposefully employ my words for the edification of my brethren and the glory of Christ?"
"What about the thoughts that run through my mind...those are words, since we as speaking beings think in words, not abstractly. Do these words in my mind reflect Christ or the world in which I live?"
"Are many of my words 'idle' (of no benefit to anyone or the kingdom of God)?"
"Do I thoughtfully consider the implications and ramifications of my words before they come forth from my mouth? Am I sifting them through Scripture?"
"If a non-Christian were listening to me talk, would they have any idea that Christ is my highest treasure...and if not, then is He really as highly treasured as I claim He is in my heart?"
"What do my words testify about my walk with Christ?"
Of course, God uses His Word to bring conviction in the hearts of believers, that they continually be changed and sanctified in their walk with Christ. Passages such as this drive us to our knees, reminding us that we need a Savior every minute of every day. Texts such as this bring to our memory that every idle word spoken, every evil thought that darts across our minds, every conversation that revolves around worldly rather than godly matters has been nailed to the cross. I know that I have many times spoken words that had no kingdom purpose. I have certainly thought things too evil to mention. For these I repent before God and beg Him to change my heart so that every word which passes from my lips or darts through my mind may be edifiying to brethren, glorifying to Christ, and a beacon for unsaved persons - leading them to the cross where Jesus died.
This text also reminds me that as a mother, I have a unique and beautiful opportunity to fill my son's storehouse with the precious deposit of godly teaching, Scripture memory, and a Biblical worldview that may all help him to walk with Christ. As parents, even if God does not choose to save our children, we are called to do this ministry as unto the Lord. A storehouse filled with godly things will be profitable for our kids, whether or not God saves them. Of course, we pray that God does redeem them and by our teaching, they will then have a firm foundation on which to build. We pray that they will be used mightily for and by the Lord.
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)
"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." (Colossians 4:6)
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