"Only the Lord Knows the Condition of a Person's Heart"
My intent here is to help the body of Christ to act with
more discernment in our personal lives and to live more fruitful lives. I have heard this statement many times and
even I have relied on these same words when unsure of a person’s character or
motives. It really is true in so many
circumstance in life. I do want to bring
a word of caution regarding solely relying on this statement as an excuse for
glossing over the character of people.
First, let me state I do not believe we should judge people
blindly. Nor should we use this truth
about judging to avoid testing people.
Evaluating and discerning people is a reality within the body of
Christ. It occurs all the time. In fact, scripture exhorts us to test people
and the statements they are making.
Consider the following passages:
· Rev 2:2 You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. NET
· 1 Corinthians 14:29-30 29 Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said. NET
· 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. 22 Stay away from every form of evil. NET
These passage teach us to “try the spirits”, to “put to the
test”, that we “should evaluate” and “examine all things.” This is just a small sampling of passages
that exhort us to think and evaluate people and speech. We are being told to judge a person and
speech after they have reveal themselves to us by their discourse.
Jesus had much to say about this issue as well, consider the
following passages:
Matt 12:34-37 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say
anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the
heart. 35 The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the
evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury. 36 I tell you that on
the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they
speak. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will
be condemned."
What a person speaks reveals what fills the heart. If I listen to what a person is speaking I
can determine if is heart is filled with good treasure or evil treasure. More important, speech does matter
significantly. All people will give an
account for every worthless word spoken.
We will be justified or condemned by our words. I am not judging in blindness rather I am
discerning on the basis of what the person is revealing.
Matt 15:10-11 10 Then he called the crowd to him and said,
"Listen and understand. 11 What defiles a person is not what goes into the
mouth; it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles a person.
This passage is even more direct, dealing with what defiles;
again what is spoken reveal a person spiritual condition on the basis of that
what is in the heart is revealed in what is spoken.
These words of Jesus speak directly to source of evil
thought, behavior and speech. Note that
Jesus teaches us that what we speak comes from our hearts and it is these
things that publicly defile a person as expressed in thought, behavior and behavior. These are all visible to the world. Now let us consider some other passages from
the Apostles.
Paul, James and John bring to us important insight about the
issue speech and related behaviors.
Ephesians 4:29 You must let no unwholesome word come out of
your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need,
that it may give grace to those who hear.
Paul teaches us that our speech is to be purposeful, speech
that builds up and gives grace. He also
emphatically states we are not “let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth…” This is a very direct exhortation, one that
we need to apply to ourselves and when listening to others.
Ephesians 4:31 You must put away every kind of bitterness,
anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk.
In this passage Paul identifies evil, slanderous talk. This is a weighty admonishment especially
when coupled with bitterness, anger, and wrath and quarreling. We might be able to hide bitterness and anger
for a season, but they will eventually reveal the true nature of our hearts
through wrath and quarreling and in the words we speak.
Col 3:8-11 8 But now, put off all such things as anger,
rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one
another since you have put off the old man with its practices 10 and have been
clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the
image of the one who created it.
Paul introduces in this passage abusive language and
lies. These behavior are not consistent
with the image of Christ. Paul tells us
this kind of conduct was practiced by all men in the old flesh, again visible
behaviors and audible words.
James 3:10-12 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.
These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. 11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and
bitter water from the same opening, does it? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives,
my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water
spring produce fresh water.
Blessing and cursing, fresh water and bitter water out of
the same mouth is impossible to sustain, eventually one or the other will
reveal what is control the heart of man.
Rev 16:13-14 Then I saw three unclean spirits that looked
like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the
beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
John raises for me the influence of demonic spirits that are
released by our speech. From the mouths
of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet, the demonic spirits that reign
over their hearts are released as plagues into the world.
Daily we are bombarded by words, we are exposed to
behaviors, we must be wise in evaluating all we hear and see. Equally, let us be a people who monitor our
own speech and behavior so we reveal only the image of Christ.
by Grace Alone! www.hcfcc.org
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