Forgiveness is a Reflection of Your Heart

Forgiveness is a reflection of what is on the inside of someone’s heart. Those with unforgiveness reveal their heart condition as do those who live in forgiveness. What is disconcerting; however, is that most do not recognize what is in their heart.  Matthew 15:18 states it plain: “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” (NIV) More people may be interested in what they are putting in their mouths that will cause weight gain all the while not even having a clue that what is stored in their hearts weighs them down more than any junk non-food! On the inside of each person is what matters most to the Lord as outlined in 1 Samuel 16:7, ‘7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  It should be no wonder that people do not take or have the time to look inward when everything in current day society is focused on outward appearance. With over 7,000 fashion magazines in the US and 2010 Harper’s Bazaar’ generated 206.7 million U.S. dollars by selling advertising space’ it is evident where the hearts of people are. (http://www.statista.com/statistics/198055/advertising-revenue-of-us-fashion-magazines/)  Let it too not be forgotten that the words of Matthew are not minced. “21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (Matthew 6:21-25)(NIV) When people fixate their hearts and minds on the things not of God it is a reflection of where their heart truly is. In the book If I don’t Remember…. Why Should You author Keith Lyvell Brooks writes,

“Selfishness in the lives of humans is at an all time low. People are losing their jobs, homes, cars, boats, pension plans, and stocks. Churches are shutting down. Debt, debt and more debt continue to snowball in a person’s live without an answer. Everyone is looking for a way out, but for some odd reason they don’t want to humble themselves, pray, and seek my kingdom….my system of doing things. Where there is disobedience, there is selfishness, there is selfishness and why people are so selfish!  This is because of fear which is born out of being selfish.” (p11,12)

The reflection of what people are seeking that simply glorifies self is an indication of where we are in current society. Until the level of selfishness is removed to reveal the righteousness in Christ the continued results will be evident. The lacking of fruit within the lives of Christians and nations will expand to an ever increasing rate. This is why recognition that forgiveness is a reflection of what is our hearts and dealing with the bondage that it breeds is a must for internal freedom to reign.

Luke 6:45 reads that “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” When a person is filled with unforgiveness it pours out of the heart of that person. From personal experience; it was what was known. It was decades of personal internal clutter that spewed out like poison.  I was not aware that the prism of what was internally being shown to others was not a prism of beauty in color. It was rather dark, dim, and diminishing. It wasn’t until the scripture came alive and revealed the deepest level of what was lurking in the innermost part of my heart that I began to get free. Once reality hit; life changed. It is only until the revelation of what God’s Word reads and one gets honest in front of the mirror can true change occur. Forgiveness and unforgiveness alike are revealed in the heart of every person. On this day I encourage you to seek Him for what you must relinquish; what selfishness and selfish ways you have chosen that are keeping you in bondage. Your life depends upon on it.

For more about forgiveness in Christ watch ‘Living in Forgiveness’ weeknights at 9:30pm CST on the UANetwork.