Evidence of the Heart
What determines how you speak?
Verse of the Day
‘For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.’
Today’s Devotional
For clarity, let’s look at this entire section of Scripture. The Pharisees had heard that Jesus had cast a demon out of a man, and instead of being awed by the miracle, they declared that Jesus got His power from Satan.
Here is the entire response to this accusation that we have from Matthew 12. “Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 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. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.””
What stands out to me about this rebuke is that our words are part of our fruit. I’ve always considered my “fruit” to be my actions. But Jesus is teaching me that my words – all of my words – are part of the fruit of my life. And if all of my words do not align with God’s will for my life, then there are parts of my heart that need the grace, forgiveness, and cleansing of God. So again, this is my prayer:
‘Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.’ (Psalms 51:10)
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
What evidence do your words give you about the condition of your heart?
Write a letter to God confessing that your words are not always pure and that you are in need of heart-cleansing.
Where, specifically, do you need God’s help with the condition of your heart?