Spiritual illustration from a bottle of water

Before we started language school in May, we had a 3 day orientation with the other new students.  We had devotions at the beginning of each day, led by one of the staff members, who serves as a counselor.  One illustration in particular was really convicting.  The speaker held up a bottle of water, took the top off, and started squeezing and shaking it.  Of course, water came out.

He asked us, "Why did water come out of the bottle?" One person said, "Because you took the top off"; another person said, "Because you shook the bottle". 

Then he asked again, "Why did water come out of the bottle?".  The answer of course is, "Because water is in the bottle". 

When we deal with tough circumstances in life, when we are squeezed and shaken, when others treat us unfairly, when we are under stress, when we are wronged, when we have disagreements, and on and on - what comes out of us?  Is it anger? Selfishness? Bitterness? Hate?

Like the water coming out of the bottle, what comes out of us is really what's inside.  Ouch! It's tough to hear truth like that.  Jesus said, "But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart..." (Matthew 15:18), and "...for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of" (Matthew 12:34).

Similarly, in regards to temptation, James 1:13-14 says "When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed."

The point in the illustration and in these verses is that we can't blame others or external circumstances for our behavior and reactions - what we do and say reflects what is really in our heart.