Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works—The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood—It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.‘ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive—but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart—For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word—Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God—Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?—Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Jn.14:10ESV; Jn.7:18ESV; Jn. 6:63-64ESV; Jn. 7:38-39ESV; Eph 5:18-19ESV; Mt. 12:34 ESV; Eph 5:25-26ESV; Col 3:16ESV; Eph.4:29NASB/ESV; Ja.3:10-11NASB; Ps.19:14ESV
Let me be a trusty spigot. Jesus modeled a life of dependence on the Father for the very words He spoke. Consequently His words were life-giving and always just right for the occasion. I’m reminded today that He is the fountain from which my words must come. It is my desire that my words will reflect His heart as I yield to His life-giving Spirit within.
–LS