One thing is certain about five year olds. If something pops into their head, it won’t be long until it pops out of their mouth!
Welcome to “Mornings with Bishop Robert” — thanks for joining me … I’m grateful that you’re here. My goal is to introduce people to the Jesus they never knew, and help them get to know Him and His word personally – and better ! If our time together today speaks to your heart, then let me invite you to like, subscribe and share it with a friend!
We’ve all heard kids say some crazy things. Here are some good ones —
- I thought I needed a hug, but all I really needed was pancakes.
- Have you been to kindergarten? Because you’re acting like you haven’t.
- Eat dessert first, you never know when the world is going to end.
- My Mommy says I should ignore people I don’t like – and, well, that’s you.
Of course, even with adults we find the same thing occurs; it just takes longer. But sooner or later, what is on the inside of us will present itself on the outside for others to see.
Renowned Christian author C.S. Lewis had some great insight on the things that pop out of our mouths when we’re surprized. He wrote , “What a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man: it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.”
If you want to deal with the rats in your cellar, the best approach I’ve found is FAITH IN JESUS. As He fills us with faith, that faith begins to displace the nasty things that need to be rinsed and scrubbed away. I find it interesting that people who don’t know Jesus sometimes feel like they need to “get their act together” before they come to faith and ask Him to be the Lord of their life. To me it’s kind of like saying, “OUCH!!!! I just cracked a tooth! I think Ill find a good dentist after I find the pieces and glue the tooth back in place.” The time for the dentist is NOW, not after you’ve tried to fix your own tooth.
Today’s verse says WHATEVER IS TRUE, WHATEVER IS NOBLE, WHATEVER IS RIGHT, WHATEVER IS PURE, WHATEVER IS LOVELY, WHATEVER IS ADMIRABLE — IF THERE IS ANYTHING EXCELLENT OR PRAISEWORTHY — THINK ON THESE THINGS.
Faith in Christ PRODUCES life. As we walk with Him, He transforms us more and more into His image. He washes us, fills us, gifts us, empowers us and uses us — and ALL for His glory. He gives us the grace and strength to focus upon WHATEVER IS TRUE, NOBLE, RIGHT, PURE, LOVELY, and ADMIRABLE. He deals with the inside. And whatever is INSIDE will eventually show on the OUTSIDE. Always.
Have faith in Christ, and that faith will cause you to yield to Him and His plans for you and your life. Then when what is on the inside comes out of you, it will be a good thing!
Your faith will be life-giving water flowing from deep inside you. Restoring, refreshing, and empowering you. And touching those around you with His love.
So be filled with Jesus. And then let it all hang out.
