The Treasury of a Good Heart
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. (Luke 6:45 NLT)
This Scripture in Luke 6 follows Jesus’ extensive teaching in vs. 27-44 about extending forgiveness to one another. Good things flow from the heart of a person who walks in forgiveness. They can express joy in ways that the bitter person can’t. Few people enjoy spending time around someone who is bitter—the amount of complaining and negativity can be draining. Hopefully no one specific comes to mind!
Years ago, when I was in a paid ministry position at a church, a couple of members went to the pastors and tried to get me fired. I remember being so angry and it took me quite a while to forgive them, which was sad. I understand there is a healthy process we can walk through of being angry but avoiding sin (Ephesians 4:26). It’s important not to suppress or live in denial when someone hurts us.
However, the amount of torment I experienced by allowing bitterness in my heart was unacceptable. As a child of God, I knew better and had experienced the poison of unforgiveness before. Unfortunately, I had not allowed the foundation of Christ’s command to forgive to become solidified in my heart. One thing about the brutality of unforgiveness is that it distorts our perspective. We believe others are truly against us, which perpetuates the wounding.
Thankfully, Jesus patiently walked me through and helped me to forgive. He helped me see that, even though some of the things they shared were not true, this couple was not trying to lie. They truly believed a distorted version of events. Plus, compared to the unending amount of sin that I had been forgiven for—paid for by Jesus—what took place pales in comparison. Painful, yes. But a blip on the radar compared to what Jesus took on the cross.
I remember seeing this couple years later and was able to hug them and have a great conversation. What was amazing was that I had truly forgotten about everything that had happened—not just able to forgive them but did not even remember! I’ll never forget when the Lord spoke to me the next day and said, See what I did there. You didn’t even remember what took place. I only remembered what had happened once the Lord spoke to me. But the memory was without any sting.
The Lord helped me give them mercy because He is merciful. How many people through the years has the Lord helped extend mercy to me when I fell short? Jesus is the treasure in our heart and the world will know we are His disciples by how we love one another. He who is forgiven much loves much. (Luke 7:47) The words that we speak are evidence of our posture of walking in forgiveness. Jesus told us that offenses will come. (Luke 17:1) May we keep our hearts soft towards one another when they do.
Prayer for today:
Father, help us to receive Your love and extend it to one another. Thank You for forgiving us, help us to extend that same grace to others. May You show us anywhere we haven’t forgiven and lead us into all truth. All things are possible with You. In Jesus name, amen.
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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
