A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
- from Luke 6:45

One phrase really jumped out to us from today’s passage: “out of the good stored up in his heart.” The image Jesus uses is of a cellar or a pantry that we’re constantly stocking with something.

That “something” that we’re filling our pantry with affects our relationships.

Whatever we store up in our hearts eventually will be brought to light. What’s in us is demanded of us by life and we’re going to express whatever’s in there. It’s all we have to offer.

Here’s how it affects our relationships. If we fill our hearts with disdain for someone, we won’t be able to show them respect. If we continually run through our record of wrongs in a relationship, we’ll struggle to show them gratitude. If we fixate on blame, we will not be able to produce compassion in our hearts.

When you think about your most important relationships, what are you storing up for that person? How can you restock you cellar with positive and helpful stores that can bless your relationships?