Matthew 5:33-37
"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes', and your 'No,' 'No.';anything beyond this comes from the evil one" (Matthew 5:36,37).
Jesus has addressed murder, adultery, divorce, and now oaths. The first three deal with matters of the heart, but the last one focuses on the mouth. Isn't it out of place here? Not really, since our speech reveals our heart. "For out of the overflow of [the] heart [the] mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45).
In fact, if I am struggling to know the condition of my heart (it is as Jeremiah says deceitful above all things), I can just observe what I'm saying and I start to see where I am.
Ellen White said:
"It is true that there may be an outward correctness of deportment without the renewing power of Christ. The love of influence and the desire for the esteem of others may produce a well-ordered life. Self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil. A selfish heart may perform generous actions. By what means, then, shall we determine whose side we are on?
Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ’s, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. All we have and are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things" (Steps to Christ, p. 58).
No comments:
Post a Comment