Guard your Heart but Watch your Words

Luke 15:17–24

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

We know this popular quote by Lao Tzu:

Watch your thoughts, they become your words;

watch your words, they become your actions;

watch your actions, they become your habits;

watch your habits, they become your character;

watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

This is nothing but the truth and the whole truth according to the legalistic code of conduct that governs the realm that controls the physical. Today, I bring to you a brief message to inform us all about the power of the words we speak. If Jesus, out of His infinite wisdom, could say that the words that He speaks are spirit and life (John 6:63), and He sacrificed the same life through which He spoke those words for us on the cross, thus bringing about the era of the Holy Spirit, whose sole job is to bring to our remembrance these same words Jesus spoke (John 14:26), then don’t you think you should watch the words that come out of your mouth?

The Good Book already implored us to guard our hearts with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23). Why? For out of it flows the words of eternal life. The key word to ponder on here is the word flow. For something to flow, there must be an expanse of space that affords it the freedom to move. Nothing flows when contained or restricted. Hence where the mouth comes in. Both in the spirit and physical, the formation of things starts from the thought process; however, this is nothing until these thought processes are verbalized, thus initiating the fulfillment phase of the process. In the beginning of all beginnings, our Triune God conceived a plan to create the world as we know it. Nevertheless, as Omnipotent as He is, until He spoke, His thoughts were never committed into action.

From the anchor text, which is a narration of a prodigal son who squandered his father's hard-earned wealth on a riotous, perilous, and unsustainable lifestyle. Though the text depicted that he came to his senses at a later stage through the furnace of hardship, however, he still lacks the required senses he truly needs. Common sense is not enough! Bear with me, you'll see why I said this soon. I would like to chip in an advice here: never waste a good tribulation, for they are our opportunity to truly assess and reassess every situation with the goal of finding a better solution.

Despite coming to his senses, verses 18 and 19 of the book of Doctor Luke 15 depicted his thought process, which was based on the following 3-step process:

1. To go to his father
2. Ask for forgiveness
3. Demote himself into an eternal life of slavery and servitude

Verses 20 and 21 confirmed that he went through with his planned approach. Like a good quality manager with a checklist of things to approve during the audit process, the first plan, that is, “Return to the father,” was checked, and plan 2, “Ask for forgiveness,” was also checked. However, as he was about to implement the last plan, the father interjected, halting a seemingly innocent thought that would have resulted in eternal slavery. Why did I say that, you may be wondering? Well, my Bible, in the book of Exodus 21:5–6 and Deuteronomy 15:16–17, highlights that once a servant plainly says he wants to be or remain a slave, then he has committed himself into perpetual slavery. You may argue that the lad wasn’t a servant—which is true—but looking at the circumstances from which the thought process originated, one can affirm that he was already in that servant mode.

As long as things remain in the realm of thoughts, they’ll never be implemented. However, as we physically or verbally take any step out of the thought process, the implementation plan is set in motion and, most times, irreversible—as can be seen in the case of the prodigal son. I beseech you all to guard your heart, but most importantly, watch what comes out of your mouth. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).

I pray that through the unending mercies of God, through the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, and in His Name Jesus Christ, may God’s mercies that nullify errors speak over you and your household.

Shalom aleichem brothers and sisters. 

Babasile Daniel I