Do you remember going to the dentist, as a child, and seeing the treasure box just sitting there in the corner of that exam room? Do you remember those feelings of anticipation and excitement, wondering what prize you will choose from this wonderful treasure chest?
With every six month appointment, I remember it felt like a new experience with new and exciting possibilities just waiting for me.
God wants our hearts to be filled with treasure and His goodness. We get to choose what kind of treasury will fill our heart. One example of this is found in Matthew 12:34b-35. “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart”.
Our speech showcases the reflection of our hearts to God and to other people, especially in the hardest of situations. Remember, God looks at the heart of man and not the outer appearance.
(see 1 Samuel 16:7)
From the very beginning of time, God spoke the world into existence and He chose to speak life to our very bones, for we are His sons and daughters. As his children, our speech has power, but we have to choose whether to speak life or death, good or evil (see Proverbs 18:21)
Because we are God’s holy children, we choose to speak life, we choose to listen, and we choose to become more like Christ.
James 1:19-20 “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires”.
Proverbs 16:24 “Kind words are like honey–sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”.
Matthew 12:36-37 Jesus tells us, “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgement day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you”.
Psalm 34:13 “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit”.
In my walk with Christ and my discipleship with other believers, I have learned to speak life to a situation that looks dead. Our speech can change the atmosphere in the room and can even make dry bones come alive and dance (see Ezekiel 37).
Jesus always spoke life and showed that His heart was full of good treasure.
- He forgave quickly, even while being crucified (Luke 23:34).
- He loved with the Father’s heart and spoke life into Peter, even after being denied 3 times (John 21:15-19).
- He made time to minister to those who needed healing (Mark 5:31-34, Matthew 8:2-3)
- He showed compassion for the crowds of people around Him (Matthew 14:14-20)
- He did good wherever He went (Acts 19-10:38).
No matter the circumstance, we are called to glorify our LORD and to speak life, even in the darkest times. Psalm 23 tells us that we are to fear no evil because God’s rod and staff comforts and protects us. David glorified God as he imagined walking down dark paths.
God wants us to know that we are the light of the world and that we should not be afraid or embarrassed to show that (see Matthew 5:14-16).
God has taught me many things and one of the most important, and a good starting place, is how I speak to people. Am I honoring God with my words, or am I being mean-spirited or critical? As we grow in Christ and become more and more like Him, we will honor and glorify Him in all we do and in all we say.
Song: Graves into Gardens by Elevation Worship
Author: Toni Newby
Editor: Christine Platt
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