Listen

Jesus called the crowd near and said to them, “Listen and understand. It’s not what goes into the mouth that contaminates a person in God’s sight. It’s what comes out of the mouth that contaminates the person.”

Then Peter spoke up, “Explain this riddle to us.”

Jesus said, “Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you know that everything that goes into the mouth enters the stomach and goes out into the sewer? But what goes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And that’s what contaminates a person in God’s sight.”

Matthew 15:10-11, 15-18

Think

Every day, whether we realize it or not, we encounter tens of thousands of words—texts, advertisements, jokes, and conversations. Some words leave almost no impact, while others can shape how we feel for hours or even days. A simple “You’ve got this” can boost someone’s confidence, while one mean comment can ruin a day.

Jesus says our words reveal what’s going on in our hearts.

As a new school year begins, it’s easy to focus on fitting in or making a good impression. But Jesus points us to something deeper. When God’s love and grace fill our hearts, they shape the way we speak. That means encouraging instead of gossiping, including instead of excluding, and building others up instead of tearing them down.

Jesus reminds us: pay attention to the words you speak. They are often the clearest evidence of our willingness to let God’s renewing work transform our hearts and minds.

Aaron Shoppa

Question to Ponder:

If someone listened to your words this week, what would they learn about what’s in your heart?

Pray

Renewing God, transform my heart so my words reflect your love. Help me to encourage, include, and build others up in this new season. Amen.

Go

God has already given you what you need. Go forth renewed and ready to transform the world through God’s love.