Inside Out

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. Matthew 12:33-35

I live an active life and am always on the move. Because I am a compulsive sipper, I love to have my favorite water bottle or coffee mug with me. Due to a high level of activity in my life, it is not unusual to get distracted and bump my drink. I’m always surprised when I knock over my beverage, stumbling to minimize the loss of fluid. There is one thing that does not shock me: what comes out of my cup. I know that if I put water into my cup, water is what comes out.

Transfer that same analogy to your life. Every man is like a vessel carrying around its contents. What is inside the cup is exactly what comes out of it when bumped. All day long it is inevitable that the circumstances of life will jostle you around. A sharp word from a co-worker, an unexpected expense, some health crisis, and the list could go on and on. The contents of your life will be spilled out. You can’t avoid the disruptions of life, but you can ensure your reaction will be God-honoring. It is from the inside out of your heart that you will always respond.

DO THIS TODAY: Find a verse or song you can fill your heart with.