Out of the Heart The Mouth Speaks

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection..... But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:6-14

I met someone the other day for the first time. Then I listened to how great he was and about the significant things that he had done, significant at least in his estimation. He was and is a legend in his own mind, as it were. And so, as I have with other people, particularly men, in the past, I discounted everything I heard as self-glorification. That is exactly the opposite of what Paul did. Oh, not that he had not accomplished significant things in the eyes of his Jewish peers, but all of that paled in significance to what Jesus had done in and through him. People being impressed with Paul would not move them one inch closer to heaven - but faith in Jesus would firmly plant both of their feet in heaven. Paul was called out to tell the Gentile world about Jesus - not Paul. 

I get it - I want people to think kindly toward me. But more important than that, we should want them to see Jesus in us. We must be careful that our egos or insecurities don't get between them and Jesus. That when we finish our encounter with them that they leave thinking that they want to be more like Jesus - not us.

What and who we talk about is a reflection of what is stored up in our hearts. I try to make it a habit to listen closely to people because I want to hear their hearts. 

".... out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." - Matthew 12:34

Jesus said that if we seek the glory of men, we have our reward. 

"Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward." - Matthew 6:2

There is something called the Shorter Catechism. Catechesis is a practice of teaching the Christian faith using questions and answers. The Shorter Catechism has 107 questions and answers. I wonder why they named it "Shorter"! The first question is this.

(Q) What is the chief end of man?

(A) Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

If we, Christians, should be about anything, it should be glorifying God and not ourselves.

After writing this, the Spirit brought another verse to my mind - that I should not attempt to remove a speck from my brother's eye ... but first, remove the plank in my own. (Matthew 7:3) Ouch!!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone