Jesus does not like a lukewarm Christian. {Read about it in Revelation 3:14-22} We must be on guard and be consistent with our love for Him. I write these tests so that we {you and ME} can check the temperature of our hearts. I hope that you are feeling blessed by these tests and are growing in your relationship with Jesus. I know I am...He is showing me areas where my heart needs some fire building!
Our mouths are the windows into our hearts. You can tell a great deal about a person by the words they speak. Listen to someone long enough, and you will understand what their hearts are really full of.
Are they full of...
love or trash?
selfishness or selflessness?
Jesus or the world?
What are our hearts full of? What do people see when we open our mouths and speak?
Matthew 12:34 states "For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart".
As you go about your day, really listen to the words you speak. Do your words show love and compassion? Are you tender when you speak or do you sting people with your words?
Our words should be full of kindness regardless of whom we are speaking with. We should be just as tender with our loved ones as we are with strangers. As we walk away from people, are they left feeling Jesus or feeling tension?
Ephesians 4:29 - No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need.
Ellicott's Commentary states that the word foul can be interchanged with the word rotten. This commentary warns that rotten talk {ungracious, tearing down, dishonesty, cursing, etc.} spreads rottenness to those around you.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to spread rottenness to people. The word alone sounds gross! It reminds me of something that stinks so badly that I have to cover my nose. It is repulsive and disgusting.
Let's be purposeful with our words. May they build up, encourage, and spread Jesus' love. Jesus loves a heart on fire for Him!
xoxo
