We give a tremendous amount of attention to the way we present ourselves. We give careful consideration to the way we dress, the way we talk, and to our education and training. We make sure that we display our experience and success for all to see. However, are these the primary things God would have us give our attention to?
Luke 6 records some of the teaching of Jesus. This is the same teaching that is recorded in Matthew 5. As Jesus begins his "Sermon on the Mount," He begins by speaking to us about our heart, about what is going on inside. Jesus is not concerned about the way we dress, or how eloquent we are, or our education level. Jesus is concerned about our heart. Jesus' first words (vs. 20-21) in this sermon point to our heart:
Blessed are you who are poor (Matthew would add "in spirit").
Blessed are you who are hungry (Matthew says "hunger and thirst for righteousness").
Blessed are you who weep.
If we doubt the fact that Jesus is focusing on an inward righteousness here, then we need to read no further than Luke 6:45 where Jesus states, "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
Our concern is to be our heart, our soul. Are we walking closely to our Lord? Are we hearing and obeying what He is saying to us? Have we been too concerned with the outward and too slack concerning the inward? Give your attention to what matters. When the inward is right, the outward will naturally follow.
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