Book of Wisdom: Proverbs 4:20-27

My son, attend to my words...they are life unto those that find them...keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life...let thine eyes look right on...let all thy ways be established...remove thy foot from evil. (Verses taken from Proverbs 4:20-27

We or at least I, could spend all month talking about these verses. This is powerful stuff! Verse 23. We have to be super  careful of what we put into our heart because what goes in comes out! It's like this:

There was once a man who owned a beautiful horse stud. He had the perfect stallion with a graceful, arched next and a barn full of lovely, quiet mares who nickered whenever he approached. The stud was well-known for producing the best and quietest arabians in that country. One day, the old stallion died and the man was suddenly in the market for a new sire for his foals. He went over many an almost perfect beast but was never happy with any of them. Finally he found the one. It looked amazing - a gorgeous, rich, deep black, with just one white sock and a white star - and he stood quietly as the man ran experienced hands all over his body. This one checked all the boxes and his new owner trucked him home. Everyone was rejoicing and for a time all seemed well. But all was not well. The new stallion wasn't as quiet as he had seemed. He was soon found to be ill-mannered, wild, rude and almost dangerous. The staff struggled with him daily. And soon reports began coming back about his foals that had been sold. They were no longer the reliably quiet creatures buyers had come to expect, but wild, ill-mannered and dangerous. Sales began to fall off and before long it was decided that the black  stallion would have to go in order to save the business. Because of his now established reputation, he could not be sold so, with a heavy heart, the owner ordered the beautiful animal shot.

My point is this. When deciding what to allow into your heart, your mind, BEWARE! Just because that game, book, movie or whatever it is looks harmless or even beautiful doesn't mean it's good. Or just because something doesn't at first bite you or get you into trouble when you dabble in it, doesn't mean there won't be consequences later on.  God instructs us:

"...whatsoever things are true...honest...just...pure...lovely...of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Phil 4:8)

These are the things that we are to put into our hearts and the thoughts we think and the words we say and the deeds we do will be beautiful for all to see. And we will "glorify our Father in heaven."