Bible Ballistics: BBs #537   If It’s In It Will Come Out???

 

“Shall not God search this out?

for he knoweth the secrets

of the heart.”  Psalm 44:21

We often talk about making lemonade out of the ‘lemons’ that we find ourselves with, but there’s a catch to that.  As the old adage asks, “What do you get when you squeeze a lemon?”  While most say, “lemon juice”, the truth is, you’ll only get out of the lemon what is in it! If it’s a dry lemon, you won’t get any juice at all—you’ll just squeeze and get nothing.  Well, our spiritual walk with God is much the same; when the squeeze comes—trials, burdens, sorrows, difficulties, or tragedies—and it will come, what you’ve put in your heart will come out; what we continually put into our hearts and minds, will be revealed when that ‘squeeze’ comes.  Jesus tells us the same thing, and more than once!

“O generation of vipers,

how can ye,

being evil,

speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man

out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.”    Matthew 12:34-35

And again, Matthew records:

“But those things

which proceed out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man:

but to eat with unwashen hands

defileth not a man.”  Matthew 15:18-20

Jesus makes it clear that what is IN our heart will come out sooner or later!  We can fool others, we can even fool ourselves, but we will never fool God.  And when the crisis comes—what is inside will be revealed, and it may surprise even us! So, it’s important to spend time with God personally, reading His Word, praying and seeking His face, His will and His way.  I understand that we all have to deal with life, but we are to “walk in the Spirit”; meaning that we are to live every moment—at work, at home, at play, at school—asking, seeking, and knocking with God’s eyes and perspective in all we do.  Whether it’s making coffee for a friend, or washing dirty clothes and dishes, or digging ditches, or checking out of the grocery store—it’s all to be done by His power which is within each one who is His own.  But that means we must-–must—guard our hearts and minds from the attacks of the enemy.

“Keep thy heart

with all diligence;

for out of it

are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

And as Paul told the Colossians, we are to work and live in His love and peace (both of which only Jesus can impart to lost hearts and minds)!

“And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called

in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

in all wisdom;

teaching

and admonishing one another

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing

with grace in your hearts

to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do

in word

or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God and the Father

by him.”  Colossians 3:14-17

We are to continually pursue the holiness of Jesus, and “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus”; and that doesn’t mean just slapping “in Jesus’ name” on the things we do, but doing His work, His way, for His glory and our continual surrender to HIM!  His name isn’t a magic “potion”, but HIS presence in HIS own is a supernatural power of grace, mercy and redemption!

So, what’s inside you?  Have you opened every room of your heart to Jesus’ presence, work and control? Or have you those locked off rooms that are coming out in the most inopportune times?  Jesus is ready, willing and able to forgive, restore and renew your life and walk with Him!  Won’t you join me today as we check out what’s “inside”?  It will come out, and what we have put in will truly come out!!!

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know that your labour

is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Amen and Amen!!!