Back to the source ...

I had an opportunity to preach just one week ago. The text I was given was from James chapter 3, with the subject being, Taming the Tongue. It is interesting for me as I look back again, because what I drew from this passage was the fact that the tongue is not the real issue, it is the source from which we speak - the heart. And here I am today, reading my Bible and reminded of this all over again, have a look at Mark chapter 7 commencing at verse one and concluding at verse 23.

Here are the concluding verses again ...

Mark 7:20-23 (New Living Translation)

20 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

I pick up on this afresh, because I know it is true for my own life, right now. I have been on one of those wandering journeys of tiredness and somewhat a loss of focus, doing my job, but I cannot be satisfied feeling I have been who I was created to BE. Fortunately, I return to the source which reminds me what I need, to get back on track.

I am interested in the list that Jesus outlines of stuff that flows from the defiled heart. And it saddens me, because when I look back in my own life, I can see how frightfully true these become of my life when I am off track, when my heart is out of alignment with my Creator.

Today I recommence my journey in the freshness of The Word (the Scriptures) and I seek to tap into the heart of God, as my source, so that my heart and all that flows from it (from me), might be pure and honest, wholesome and good. I want to honour the One who is the source of life for my life.

Father, forgive me for having wandered from You, the source of my BEing. Help me to remain in You as the Branch does within the Vine, drawing life for my life. Help me to remain connected, and thus true and pure to Your values and character, in Jesus name.

The source ...

Another one of those stand out passages. One that reminds us where we get our life source from, but at the same time warning of the apparent loss when one is not productive in bearing fruit.

It is one thing to be sucking the life out of all that we can (receiving sustenance, a good education, good leading and example from others), but if one's life is not producing anything from this, it is pretty pointless. Jesus points out that part of being grafted into Him as our life source, is that we produce fruit. That our lives effect the lives of others. I think of this fruit being that Galatians 5:22-23 (New Living Translation) 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.

These ought to be evident in our lives if we are people who's lives are grafted into the life of Christ. Have a read of the verses again and take up the challenge to produce, much good fruit:

John 15:1-17 (The Message)

The Vine and the Branches

1-3 "I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

4"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

5-8"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

9-10"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.

11-15"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.

16"You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

17"But remember the root command: Love one another.