“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This old saying is a fallacy that children grew up saying and hearing. The intent was to downgrade the impact of the negative words spoken. Now, we realize that words can last long after the physical wounds heal. The power of words reaches to the heart of the receiver. Therefore, heart speaks to heart. So, what’s the condition of your heart?
The Story: Mark 7:1-23
In Mark 7:1-23, the Pharisees approach Jesus because His disciples ate bread without washing their hands. The Pharisees focused on manmade traditions and believed that the disciples had no regard for such matters. Jesus knew the heart of the religious leaders and spoke directly to the heart of the matter. He advised that they were more concerned about traditions than the Word of God. He also revealed that outward actions testify to what’s in the heart.
The Lesson
So what’s in your heart? We all want to say that our hearts are pure and clean. Is that the truth? Only you and God know for sure. While we can hide for awhile with pleasantries and acts of kindness, time will reveal the truth of the matter. Therefore, an assessment of your hearts is necessary before the contents reveal your true nature.
- Seek God. Psalm 139:23 requests for God to search the heart. Through prayer and fasting, you inquire of God to showcase what’s in your heart. He desires for you to grow and develop so He will speak truth to determine your heart condition.
- Watch your mouth. Luke 6:45 clearly expresses that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Your mouth tells the truth even when you’re unaware. If your heart is full of ill-will, then that’s what your mouth will say. What you harbor in your heart will come to the surface and speak for itself.
- Check your actions. Mark 7:20 states that what comes from the heart is what defiles it. Your actions reveal what’s in your heart. They testify to the truth of who you are. If your actions don’t reveal who you want to be, then there’s time for a change. If your actions reveal a momentary lapse in judgement and you say, “that’s not me,” that’s an indication of a possible heart defect.
From the assessment, what’s your heart condition? Check regularly and often.
