Good or Bad Comes From The Heart

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What causes us to do good or evil? Most people seem to think that it comes down to the decisions we make. If you set your mind on doing good you will. If you choose to do evil, you’ll do that instead. 

But Jesus teaches us that the real source of our actions lies much deeper. It all comes down to the heart. 

“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” (Lk. 6:45). 

Whatever is in your heart ends up in your life. 

What you treasure, value, glory in, and enjoy will result in what you do. If you treasure good things in your heart, then you will do good. If you treasure evil in your heart, then you will do evil. 

So how do we change what our hearts treasure? The answer, in Jesus’ words, is different than we might expect. We might expect a list of disciplines, habits, or meditations that would change what our hearts value. 

However, the condition of your heart is not based on what you do, but who you are. Jesus taught that a good tree can’t bear bad fruit and a bad tree can’t bear good fruit. Only good trees can bear good fruit. 

So we must ask, how do we become a good tree? 

That is the work of the Gospel. Jesus makes us a good tree despite all our bad fruit. He saves us and transforms us before we have done anything to earn that transformation. 

All we need to do is see ourselves as the good tree Jesus has made us to be, and our hearts will treasure him above all else. 

Do you want to change your actions? Treasure Jesus for making you into a good tree even when you were the worst tree there was. He will then work in your heart to bear good fruit.

‭Luke 6:43-45 NKJV‬

[43] “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  [44] For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  [45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 

“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. ~ ‭Luke 6:43-45 NKJV‬

From Rewire Your Heart: 10 Days To Fight Sin. 

Read more: http://bible.com/r/3K7

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