Wednesday, October 29, 2008

"What Does Your Heart Treasure?"

Whatever one stores in their heart, that is what they speak about. Whatever one speaks about, comes from the treasure of their heart (Matt. 12:34-37). Treasure in the heart is what you deem as valuable and most important. Give me 5 minutes with anyone and I can tell you what they love the most. The mouth speaks that which fills the heart! If one loves sports, that is what they will spend the majority of their time engaging in conversation. If one loves crafts or 'blogging', that is what they will speak about. There is no getting around it.
Do you ever wonder why we have so little to say about the Lord? What kind of things about Jesus are we treasuring in our hearts? I am not trying to 'bully' us into speaking about the Lord. Our relationship with the Lord should lead us into a newness and freedom that only those who know the Christ and have been set free from their sins understand that freedom. It is a freedom that takes hold in the heart and creates an awareness of our relationship to Him. Our desires from the heart change and we want to speak about Him, serve Him and love Him. People tire of religious talk! It grates on people to hear how one church is competing with another, like we are going to convert someone because of that! People use stats to prove one road is better than another. The spoken message from the heart of those converted is not a message of: "Look how the Lord changed me!" or a message of what the Lord has done for me. That's just as empty. The message proclaimed by God's people centered on Jesus Christ and Him crucified! It was about Him and His relationship to God on our behalf. Recently, while preparing a radio program, a dear brother in Christ came up to me and said, "I have a great idea for your radio program!" I gave him my attention. He then proceeded, "Why don't you let some of us members come on and give a testimonial of how the Lord changed us because many in this city know how bad I was growing up!" I gave little response but it made my mind think. Have our hearts become "us" centered? "Testimonials" never changed one person and cannot lead anyone in the power of the resurrected Christ! To speak about us only waters down and weakens the power of Christ! It might make us feel good, but it makes us more self centered and self conscious.
God's word tells us plainly, "We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom so that we may present every man complete in Christ." (Col. 1:28) It is about "...Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col. 1:27) Our speaking, our hearts should be wrapped up in Jesus because all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him (Col. 2:3). No one on earth can bring life changing power to the heart like Jesus!
Where's your heart? What and who do you love the most? Just listen to your conversations and it might surprise you. We need Jesus and Him crucified to fulfill every purpose and thought in our lives. He along brings life giving change and that comes from the inside out. Do you know Jesus?

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