Fill My Heart Lord, and My Mouth Will Follow
January 16, 2022
Text: Luke 6:43-45 43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (New International Version).
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. (New Living Translation)
The mouth is one of the gauges for the level of love in our hearts. The mouth is the instrument that plays the music of the heart. The heart is the bucket of the well of the heart.
So, the question is how do we get our hearts filled with the love that will affect our words and thoughts in a way that is pleasing to the Lord?
The Bible gives a vast amount of attention to speech:
- Proverbs 18:21 “life and death” are in the power of the tongue
- Ephesians 4:29 tells us not to let any unwholesome word come from our mouth but only words that build.
- James 3 gives a fiery exhortation on the tongue comparing it to a spark that can create a forest fire.
Jesus said, the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart.
The mouth is one of the gauges for the level of love in our hearts. Or again, the mouth is the instrument that plays the music of the heart. Or once again, the heart is the bucket of the well of the heart.
So the question is how do we get our hearts filled with the love that will affect our words and thoughts in a way that is pleasing to the Lord?
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12; AD 62)
I imagine as Paul penned those words, his mind might have drifted back to what he wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians, 7 years earlier… (2 Corinthians 11:23-33 – 55 AD)
Then Paul reveals the secret: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) Paul gives the credit to Christ.
When it comes to the challenges of life, the secret is Christ. When it comes to the challenges of love, the secret is Christ. When it comes to the challenge of loving speech as described by the Scriptures, the secret is not trying to fill our hearts with love, but to fill them with Christ.
James calls the tongue a restless evil. No human being can tame the tongue. He says it’s a deadly poison.
The secret is a heart full of Christ. A genuinely enjoyable relationship with Him. The Lord wants us to enjoy Him far more than we want to enjoy Him. While we were yet sinners, Christ died to make it possible. …
Though we are all over the place, sometimes when it comes to our relationship with Him, He never changes. He never walks away. He’s always there, with us, for us and in us.
To know Him is to adore Him. To adore Him is to adorn Him. To adorn Him is to grow in love. That includes loving speech.
So let loving words flow from a heart that celebrates your relationship with Jesus Christ. Let Paul’s secret. Be our secret. Christ was his secret. Let Christ be your secret.
Love Notes. I will offer these practical love notes on speech:
1) Positive speech begets positive speech. Start off the day with positive communication and you are more likely to repeat it. Start off with negative and you are more likely to repeat that as well.
2) If you have building and affirming thoughts about someone, tell them and don’t hold back. People don’t know what you’re thinking unless you tell them.
The tongue is a challenge, speaking life and love is a challenge, but nothing is too difficult for the Christ who gives us His strength. So, fill my heart, Lord, and my mouth will follow.
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