August 2014
Dear Friend,
As of this writing (Aug 31), two thirds of 2014 have come and gone, and we see ourselves entering the final four months for the year. It's been an eventful 8 months for many countries, especially for Malaysia as it attempts to cope with the recent airline tragedies of MH370 and MH17; and for the Christians going through persecution in various places, where some are even being martyred for the sake of the Gospel.
In all these things, the temptation is strong for you and I to lose heart; give up and complain at the injustice we see rampaging through the world. It's even stronger if you keep following the latest in the news!
God has been dealing strongly with me to share what Solomon said in the Bible in Proverbs 4:23
Prov 4:23 (NKJV)
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
That may be a bit obscure to you, given that I'm fond of quoting the New King James Version (NKJV), but I like what other translations have to say about this verse:
New Century Version (NCV)
23 Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.
New International Version (NIV)
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Isn't it interesting, that Solomon emphasized watching what we keep in our hearts instead of simply watching our mouths? Most of us, at some point or another; have had the bad luck of having our mouths run way ahead of our heads, and wonder why we said what we said; or even regret the words we said.
It can be established that the words we speak and the actions done will always be the product of what we had in our hearts at that time. Read with me what Jesus said in Luke 6:43-45,
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.
The fruit that you and I produce will always be intimately connected to what we deposit in our hearts! Not only that, read also what Jesus said in Mark 11:23,
Mark 11:23 (NKJV)
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
It's a scary thought to realize that the situations you find yourself in could be a result of the things you said, which was a by-product of what you had in your heart!
Thank God however that He gave us the solution to the problem even before He gave us the warning! Read with me Proverbs 4:20-22,
Prov 4:20-22 (NKJV)
20 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
To those who will read the Word of God, meditate and feed on it, it'll be LIFE for them! Jesus said likewise when speaking to His disciples in John 6:63
John 6:63 (NKJV)
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
My encouragement to you as we enter September is this: Spend time meditating on the goodness of God, feeding on His Word for life. Let it be a deposit of life in your heart; from which words of life can flow out when you need it the most. In Paul's words in Philippians 4:8-9,
Phil 4:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
My prayers are with you.
Love,
Ken
