The Heart Determines Actions

There is an old saying: "Your actions speak so loud I can't hear a word you are saying." And, another one: "Actions speak louder than words." Our actions prove what is inside.

When we become born again we are changed, we hate the sin we used to love and want to run from it. If there has not been a drastic change in our desires, then we were never born again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

No one just happens to fall into sin, it is first fostered day after day in the heart before it can come out in actions.

A thief has bitterness and anger in his heart before he decides that he may take whatever he wants from anyone he desires.

An adulterer fosters attitudes of anger and hate before they decide to cheat on their spouse.

A liar fosters bitterness, anger and selfishness before he decides to deceive others.

That's why God said that the first two commandments were the most important, because if we obey those, if we love those, then we will not commit cheating, left or lying. Let's review those two commandments.

Matthew 22:36-40 "36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

If we love the Lord with all our hearts and our neighbors as much as we already love ourselves, then we will do no harm to others. Our first thought will be to do what is loving, kind and helpful for others first placing ourselves last.

Mark 7:21-23 "21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy , slander, pride and foolishness. 23 "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."

When we become born again, Christ writes His law on our hearts, we don't have to try to follow them, they become a part of us and we love them.

Those who are still trying to obey the ten commandments in their flesh, do not understand the concept that the commandments are inter-woven into every part of any believer. When we stray, we have a sense of shame that we may have disobeyed and disappointed God.