Colossians 3:16-17 NLT
[16] “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. [17] And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
Paul doesn’t state the third” let” in so many words but it’s there in essence. Let what comes out of our mouths be a true reflection of what’s inside.
Jesus made this principle clear to His disciples. It’s not what goes in but what comes out that reveals the condition of the heart.
Luke 6:45 NLT
[45] “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.”
A heart made new by God’s grace will overflow with words of praise and gratitude. We must learn to regulate what comes out of our mouths by what we put in. It’s up to us to practise and make a habit of overflowing with words and attitudes that reflect our new nature. Our hearts are like computers. What we put in will come out.
There’s a joy inside of us, there’s new life in our hearts. Let it flow out in expressions of praise and gratitude. Let the message of Jesus first fill our hearts and then flow out of our mouths wherever we are, from the core of our being.
James questions the habit of some who overflow with good and evil words from one fountain. Is this possible? How can this be?
James 3:7-11 NLT
[7] “People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, [8] but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. [9] Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. [10] And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! [11] Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?”
Does this mean that some who claim to be Christians are lying because of what flows from their lips?
God’s salvation does such a radical work on the inside, circumsising our hearts, cutting out the old desires and replacing them with God’s nature, that what is inside us must come out in new words. If there is little or no change, we must question the reality of such a claim. Did salvation really happen? Where is the evidence?
If God’s grace has really changed us on the inside, there will be clear evidence of that change in our lives. Christ’s peace, His message enshrined in His person and entwined in our behaviour, and our response of joyful praise and gratitude from our lips, all tell the story…otherwise, it’s all just plastic fruit we have used to decorate our “tree”. We must let these new habits happen, that is, deliberately and consciously put them into practice to cement the truth of what is in our hearts.
How beautifully Isaiah predicted that one day this great salvation would come to God’s people…and now it’s here!
Isaiah 12:1-6 NLT
[1] “In that day you will sing: “I will praise you, O Lord! You were angry with me, but not anymore. Now you comfort me. [2] See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” [3] With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! [4] In that wonderful day you will sing: “Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is! [5] Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. [6] Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy! For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.”