Max Lucado from his book ‘Just Like Jesus’ shared:
. . . . “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Let’s look at it from another angle. Suppose I ask you to take care of my house while I’m out of town. You pledge to keep everything in great shape. But when I return, I find the place in shambles. The carpet is torn, walls are smeared, furniture is broken. Your explanation is not impressive: some bikers came and needed a place to stay. Then the rugby team called, looking for a place to party. And of course there was the fraternity—they wanted a place to hold their initiation ceremony. As the owner, I have one question: “Don’t you know how to say no? This is not your house. You don’t have the right to let everyone in, who wants to enter.” Ever think God wants to say the same to us?
Guarding our hearts . . . You’ve got to admit some of our hearts are trashed out. Let any riffraff knock on our door, and we throw it open. Anger shows up and we let him in. Revenge needs a place to stay, so we have him pull up a chair. Pity wants to have a party, so we show him the kitchen. Lust rings the bell, and we change the sheets on the bed. “Don’t we know how to say no?
Many don’t. For most of us, thought management is, well, unthought of. We think much about time management, weight management, personal management, even scalp management. But what about thought management? Shouldn’t we be as concerned about managing our thoughts as we are managing anything else? Jesus was. Like the trained soldier at the gate of a city, he stood watch over his mind. He stubbornly guarded the gateway of his heart. Many thoughts were denied entrance. Need a few examples?
How about arrogance? On one occasion the people were determined to make Jesus their king. What an attractive thought. Most of us would delight in the notion of royalty. Even if we refused the crown, we would enjoy considering the invitation. Not Jesus. “Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab him and make him king, so he slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by himself. (John 6:15 MSG)
Another dramatic example occurred in a conversation Jesus had with Peter. Upon hearing Jesus announce his impending death on the cross, the impetuous apostle objected. “Impossible, Master! That can never be!” (Matt. 16:22 MSG) Apparently, Peter was about to question the necessity of Calvary. But he never had a chance. Christ blocked the doorway. He sent both the messenger and the author of the heresy scurrying. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works” (Matt 16:22 MSG)
And how about the time when Jesus was mocked? Have you ever had people laugh at you? Jesus did, too. Responding to an appeal to heal a sick girl, he entered her house only to be told she was dead. His response? “The child is not dead, but sleeping.” The response of the people in the house? They laughed at him.” Just like all of us, Jesus had to face a moment of humiliation. But unlike most of us, he refused to receive it. Note his decisive response: “he put them all outside” (Mark 5:39-40 RSV) The mockery was not allowed in the house of the girl nor in the mind of Christ.) Jesus guarded his heart. If he did, shouldn’t we do the same? Most certainly! Be careful of what you think, because your thoughts run your life” (Prov. 4:23) (continued) ~Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus (Nashville: World Publishing, 1998)
