There are many different places in the Bible where Jesus says a similar thing – it’s something we all know pretty instinctively: “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:43-45).
What if I want to change what comes out of my mouth? What if I want to have more positive, thankful, encouraging words come out? According to this passage, as well as my experience, I can’t just decide to change an aspect of my behaviour or my speech and have that change last. I need a change of who I actually am, a deep change from within. A surface change just doesn’t work.
So how to go about this change? Well, to begin with, we do need a miraculous work of God (but don’t worry, He’s up for it!) “If anyone is in Messiah (Christ) he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God… “(2 Corinthians 5:17-18).
But once this basic change has occurred (contact me for more information on that first, deep, basic change if you are interested), there are things to do that will facilitate ongoing change. What you put in is what will eventually come out. Fill yourself on junk food and ill health will result. Consume destructive things, and what comes out will be destructive behaviour, words, etc. But consume large doses of good, healthy content, and that’s what will come out.
“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).
I had been listening to/watching a lot of political commentary about various negative things going on in the world. I don’t believe in hiding my head in the sand; I do want to know what’s going on. However, when I listen/watch less of that and more of the things listed above, I see a difference in my life, including my level of peace, joy, and how I relate to others.
I plan to be intentional and consume more of the honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy things, confident that doing so will produce good fruit in my life.
How about you?
