Heart

A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
– Luke 6:45

Jesus spoke these words to the crowd who had gathered near the Mount, everyone was welcome to come and listen, not just his disciples. He spoke these words shortly after giving the people the Beatitudes. Jesus is discussing the fruit, or works, people produce and how the result will be reflective of their intent.

A person’s end result will be indicative of their motives. As Christians, we are to spread the Gospel, to lead others to the arms of Christ. There’s never a shortage of people pretending to be followers of Christ, but who are in all actuality deceivers. If a person’s actions aren’t producing the proper fruit, that person has a hidden agenda.

A person’s true colors are shown through their actions and words. For a period of time someone may be able to lead some astray, but eventually the fruits of their labor will bare the product of their work. St. Paul wrote about a similar situation in 2 Corinthians 14:12-15. False teachers and false apostles will receive their just reward, maybe not in this life but most certainly in the life to come.

A person’s actions are often indicative of their heart. Jeremiah found that the human heart is most deceitful, that only the Lord can fully understand it (Jeremiah 17:9,10). Humans deceive and can be deceived, but it’s impossible to deceive the Lord. What each of us accomplish in this life will impact our rewards in heaven.

God blessed us with the freedom to live our lives the way we choose. Each of us has the ability to do both good and evil. We can plant good seeds that will bear faithful believers, or we can plant weeds that choke plants and drive believers away from the Lord. What ever we do, we will be accountable for. Keep your eyes open, study the Word, pray so that you won’t fall prey to an evil scheme.