TREASURE MART
'For a good tree bringeth
not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.'
'For every tree is known by
his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble
bush gather they grapes.'
'A good man out of the
good treasure of
his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the
evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of
the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.'
Luke 6:43-45(KJV)
The whole world itself is a mega treasure
mart made up of people. Each
person is a treasure mart which stores,displays and sells good or bad
treasure. The treasure store is the human heart. The good or evil state
of one's heart determines whether one is good or bad in God's sight.
That state of heart is clearly displayed by one's words and deeds!
'You don't get wormy
apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a
diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree.
You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It's who you are, not
what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true
words and deeds.'
Luke 6:43-45(The Message)
One's human heart is naturally bad and no
mask of human goodness can
remove or hide its evil nature! But when one comes to Christ and
receive
Him into one's heart as one's personal Lord and Saviour,one becomes a
new creature which has a new heart according to God's promise which is
fulfilled only in Christ! The new heart is 'loveful',good,and selfless
unlike the old stony heart that is 'lustful',evil,and selfish!
'They are all gone
aside,
they are all together become filthy: there is
none that doeth good, no, not one.'
Psalm 14:3(KJV)
'The heart is deceitful
above all things, and desperately wicked: who
can know it?'
Jer.17:9(KJV)
'A new heart also will I
give you, and a new spirit will I put within
you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will
give you an heart of flesh.'
Ezek.36:26(KJV)
Christ Himself is a multi-mega treasure mart full of
the wisdom and
knowledge of God! Each Christian is an earthen vessel in which lives
Christ Himself.
'In whom are
hid all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge.'
Col.2:3(KJV)
'But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the excellency of
the power may be of God, and not of us.'
2 Cor.4:7(KJV)
As each Christian lives
and walks by the faith of Christ,the good
treasure is displayed and sold in words and deeds,thereby witnessing
Christ to a lost and dark world that some may be saved;and ministering
Christ to other members of the body of Christ so that the latter is
edified. No perspective buyer is exempt from any sale because God's
love is unconditional!
'And whatsoever ye do in
word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God and the Father by him.'
Col.3:17(KJV)
'I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.'
Gal.2:20(KJV)
One's faith walk is enhanced by the
renewing of one's mind.
This renewal is a process in which the mind is reprogrammed to function
in harmony with one's new heart. The process is accomplished by the
written word that has been illuminated and taught (John 14:26;1 John
2:27) by the Holy Spirit who lives in one's new heart. And one needs
all diligence to co-operate with the Lord in this respect!
'And be
not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.'
Rom.12:2(KJV)
'Keep
thy heart with all
diligence; for out of it are the issues of
life.'
Prov.4:23(KJV)
God is good,and the new heart that he
gives is good just like Him and His own unconditional love is
demonstrated in one's words and deeds. It is in all these kingdom
endeavours that God is glorified on the earth
by His people functioning as Christ-like treasure marts of His goodness.
'Truly God is
good to
Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.'
Psalm 73:1(KJV)
'For the LORD is good; his
mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth
to all generations.'
Psalm 100:5
'Thou art good, and doest
good; teach me thy statutes.'
Psalm 119:68(KJV)
This is the collective destiny of God's people irrespective of their
diverse unique callings!
'Ye are the salt of
the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but
to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.'
'Ye are the light of
the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.'
'Neither do men light a
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.'
'Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven.'
Matt.5:13-16(KJV)
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