A Heart Filled With Goodness
"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart." Luke 6:45 NIV
Where does goodness come from, and how can you cultivate more of it in your daily decisions and actions? Some people think goodness is a matter of the head, and that right-thinking results in right living. Today every politician gives the impression that education is the panacea for practically every problem in society. Yet education of the head, without the same emphasis on integrity of the heart, will produce only clever fiends. If education alone were the answer, white-collar crimes would likely drop. Others think goodness is a matter of the hands. They say goodness means treating people well. But doing good does not make a person good. Murderers on death row may be good to their mothers, but they are not good individuals. The truth is, goodness is not located in the head or the hands; it's hidden in your heart. Jesus, the best man who ever lived, said, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart." Goodness is not merely a matter of what we know or what we do; it is a matter of what we are. As you consider the life ahead of you, what really matters is not how long you live but how well you live. Sir Francis Bacon once said: "Of all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest, being the character of Deity; and, without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing." So in your desire to be good, draw closer to God. After all, you become like the company you keep.
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
Where does goodness come from, and how can you cultivate more of it in your daily decisions and actions? Some people think goodness is a matter of the head, and that right-thinking results in right living. Today every politician gives the impression that education is the panacea for practically every problem in society. Yet education of the head, without the same emphasis on integrity of the heart, will produce only clever fiends. If education alone were the answer, white-collar crimes would likely drop. Others think goodness is a matter of the hands. They say goodness means treating people well. But doing good does not make a person good. Murderers on death row may be good to their mothers, but they are not good individuals. The truth is, goodness is not located in the head or the hands; it's hidden in your heart. Jesus, the best man who ever lived, said, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart." Goodness is not merely a matter of what we know or what we do; it is a matter of what we are. As you consider the life ahead of you, what really matters is not how long you live but how well you live. Sir Francis Bacon once said: "Of all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest, being the character of Deity; and, without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing." So in your desire to be good, draw closer to God. After all, you become like the company you keep.
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
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January
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February
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March
Experiencing God's Presence And PleasureDon't Wait; Enjoy Your Life NowMoney Matters In MarriageUse Your God-Given CreativityA Prayer Of ForgivenessWhen God Sends You An Angel (1)When God Sends You An Angel (2)When God Sends You An Angel (3)When God Sends You An Angel (4)A Prayer For Financial ContentmentA Prayer Of Commitment To GodHaving A Vision For Your LifeChange Your Thinking, Change Your Life (1)Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (2)Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (3)Does It Glorify God?Lessons From A Broken HeartWhat You Must give UpYou Need OthersRebuilding Your Marriage (1)Rebuilding Your Marriage (2)Rebuilding Your Marriage (3)Rebuilding Your Marriage (4)Through Christ, You Can Do ItDepend More On GodStart Saying, "I Can"Refuse To Live In Fear (1)Refuse To Live In Fear (2)Refuse To Live In Fear (3)Refuse To Live In Fear (4)Prepare In Advance
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