Dark Spots

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

This verse in Matthew 12 has been sticking out to me. The context of which is quite impacting as well. The verse before (33) says quite plainly, if a tree is good make it's fruit good, and if it is bad the fruit will be bad. That's our meter. That is what measures us. Our fruit.

I have been feeling a strong conviction for my words. What am I saying? Is it encouraging? sarcastic? cynical? hopeless? hopeful? loving? hateful? And what are the things that I stand for in my words and do my actions support that. Where is the fruit in my life? I claim Christ sure. Many people do. Many people claim Him but do not KNOW Him. Please understand I say these things in the context of my own desire to know Him better, and not in a judging manner. My desire is that all who claim Christ would seek Him, I know I fail at this.

I guess at the center of this musing is the concept that the things that we say are evidence of the condition of our heart. Saying that it is just a personality trait to be sarcastic or cynical is a cop out. To me, if those things exist in a malicious way, it means there is some black spot on our heart that is yet to be eradicated. I am not saying you can't tease someone in good faith or be honest about a negative situation. There is a difference between the two.

If we are actively pursuing God, it seems our hearts should follow suit. Any inconsistency in that indicates that we are not diligent in His pursuit. It doesn't mean we will not make mistakes, it does not mean that we will not take steps backwards, because we surely will. It's a long process of sanctification. Still for myself, I desire to be uncomfortable with the condition of my heart, that I would guard it above all else, as Proverbs 4 says. That I would be in constant repair of the wounds and in active battle against the darkness inside of it. I would be a bold liar to say I didn't have some blotches. I think we all would be to some extent. I hope we take those dark spots in our hearts and turn them bright red.