The Abundance of the Heart – Stepping in the Light

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” Matthew 12:34-35

God is more concerned with our thoughts and words than most of us realize. We have a tendency to think that if we are doing good things (and refraining from doing bad things) we are pleasing God. The Pharisees prided themselves in the lives they lived. They were very careful to give the right impression to others with their actions. They always wanted to be in the right place at the right time. They wanted to be seen doing good deeds and keeping the ceremonial law, but they were not always so diligent about their thoughts and words. Just before Jesus said this to them, He was accused of being possessed with a devil. Jesus had cast a demon out of a man who had been both blind and unable to speak. When the people saw that the demon was cast out and that the man could see and speak, they exclaimed that Jesus was the son of David, the Messiah. The Pharisees refused to accept that Jesus could possibly be the Promised One. The more the people believed in Him, the more frustrated they became. Their accusations against Jesus were not based in truth and love. They arose out of hearts filled with envy and hatred. Our thoughts define who we are. God wants us to fill our hearts and minds with truth, righteousness, and love. When we do, it will be evident to everyone around us.

Morning: Genesis 43-45

Evening: Matthew 12:24-50

About This Site

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

If you were to find yourself walking down a path in the dark of night with only an old-fashioned lantern to light the way, you wouldn’t be able to see very far ahead. You would be able to see just enough of the pathway to know which direction to take your next step and enough of the ground to choose the best place for your feet. When it comes to our daily lives, God’s Word is a lot like that lantern. It will not show us the whole path at once, but it is exactly what we need to help us decide how to take the next step.

The Bible is our source of spiritual light, and if we consistently seek God’s direction as we read from its pages, we will always have enough light for our next step along the pathway of life. It is then that we are, in the words of an old gospel song, “stepping in the light.”

The goal of this devotional guide is to encourage you to spend time in the Word of God each day. Reading the passages listed at the bottom of the page will take you all the way through the Bible in one year. The devotional thought for each day is taken from a text within that day’s reading, so even that small daily portion of reading will take you on a journey through God’s Word. It is my prayer that this guide would help you to walk closer to the Lord and that you will find yourself taking each step in the light of His Word.