Nuggets From God's Word

Scripture: Matthew 15.  

OBSERVATION
(Key verses)

Matthew 15:18-20 (NLT)

18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you.

19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.

20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my life today?)

In a time when Christians are just as guilty of fighting among ourselves and getting a chip on our shoulders, as the followers of Jesus’ day, I believe that we should revisit these verses and take heart to what Jesus is teaching here. My take on this is that with our mouths we can say anything that we believe the hearer needs, or wants to hear. However, what Jesus is concerned about is the heartfelt malice, hatred, unconcern, envy, and bad feelings we have towards the person. I immediately thought of that popular song “Create in Me a Clean Heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me”, because this is what I believe that God is calling us out to be – honest in our relationships and in our representation of Him.

PRAYER
(What I will ask of God, in order for me to properly apply His Word to my life)

Lord You have reminded me of the importance of being Your child in all ways and not simply speaking the words that I believe the other person wants to hear. What they really want to hear is my heart, my honesty, the open truth about a situation. Please help me to be loving in what I say, but yet help me to be very honest in what I say. I want to be just like You, and this can only be accomplished when I represent You well so that others may see and hear Jesus and want to know You in a very personal way. Thank You for Your honesty with me, now please help me to do the same in all of my dealings with others.

 

**Words underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
**