Overflow

“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Thegood man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil manbrings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that menwill have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word theyhave spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words youwill be condemned” (Matthew 12:34b-37).

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasonedwith salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6).

At several points in my life, I have been conscious ofspeaking words that were not gracious. Apparently, my heart had not been storedwith good things, or the overflow would have been gracious words. I want tostore my heart so full of good that the overflow will be always good.

 

Written November 1988.

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How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships