My Heart In My Mouth

Visiting a hospital ward, I used to sit at the bedside of a frail old lady who had few visitors. She had outlived her generation. As I got to know her she talked about many things and many people. Almost everything she said was charitable, gentle and kind. She was a wonderful illustration of v. 45; there was so much goodness and gratitude stored up in her heart that it overflowed into almost every conversation. The fruit of her long life was sweet and good. It was a joy to share it and realize how many others she had blessed.

Jesus reminds us here that we show the state of our heart through what comes out of our mouths. Our spiritual condition becomes evident in the fruit we bear. However much we might try to disguise it, this is more obvious to other people than we realize. The kind of people we are deep down will, sooner or later, be evident to everyone in our journey through life. Jesus’ story about the two builders reinforces the point. If we have no depth, it will be obvious, for any storm will leave us exposed and devastated. We need deep and strong foundations, a firm base to build upon. Just as only good trees bear good fruit, and good hearts produce kind words, only good foundations make strong buildings. Everything else produces decay and will not withstand the storms of destruction.

How do we begin to put down good foundations or store good things in our hearts? It requires self-examination, prayer and repentance. We need to ask God to show us what we are like. We also need, as in v. 47, to come to Christ to hear his words and be committed to putting them into practice in our lives.

How are you building a firm, lasting foundation for your life? How can you strengthen it even further? Ask God for insight.