Luke 6:45 English Standard Version (ESV) The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
While I love this verse and wish so much to be a good person, I hear my Savior’s voice when called good.
Luke 18:19 English Standard Version (ESV) And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
This Luke quote comes towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount, after He begins telling parables. This quote follows the comparison to the fruit of trees. But He does stop there. He continues with a very important truth related to our hearts.
Luke 6:47 English Standard Version (ESV) Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like:
Only after we hear, believe and obey His Word will He show us whether our Words proceed from our hearts or from somewhere else.
The desire to be good does not make us good. Jesus told us as much in Luke 18:19. The comment in verse 47 follows the parable of the ones who dig deep and build their house on the Rock. Jesus being the Rock, we must build up our hearts upon Him, line upon line, precept upon precept, so that what we have put deep in our hearts has that sure foundation.
To know ourselves as Jesus reveals us in truth, to be shown what we are made of begins with hearing, believing and doing His Word. That is the faith demonstrated to us by Abraham. It is walking by faith.
Romans 8:1-2 English Standard Version
Life in the Spirit
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.