Matthew 16:5-12 "Eliminate the ME"

I have skipped over Matthew 16:1-4 because the exact same subject was covered in Matthew 12:38-45. Click on link for that post.

Read Matthew 16:5-12.

"They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread." NIV

I think quite often God is talking to us about one thing, and we "hear" another. Why is that? In this case the disciples' misunderstanding was because of insecurity, maybe guilt feelings. They felt bad because they had forgotten the bread and thought Jesus was rebuking them by bringing up the yeast.

But if they'd taken their eyes off of themselves for just a minute they would have seen two things:

1. Jesus couldn't be talking about needing bread because He can perform miracles to feed anyone. We've seen it done twice now.
2. He's warning us of the religious leaders' teachings.

Quite simple really, but because they couldn't take themselves out of the equation, Jesus' meaning was completely clouded.

How often am I missing what He is saying to me because I don't take the "me" out of the picture? I'm worried about how it affects ME; what He is upset with ME about; what does He want ME to do. I'm really starting to hate that word, "me." It's really getting in the way of seeing Christ clearly. That's one of the reasons He said to, "die to self." Everything that darkens my life seems to begin with my selfishness and "me" focus. If I remove the ME, I just see Christ, His compassion and grace, and His desire that I reach out to others first. Period.

Lord, I don't want ME in the equation any more. Keep my focus only on You and Your desires. ME just gets in the way of seeing and hearing You.

Further Thoughts:

1. When you hear a teaching, is your first reaction to focus on ME? If sin is involved, we do need to confess that and repent. But maybe He is trying to get you to focus on Him and others and move on past those temptations to sin.
2. If we stop focusing so much on ourselves, will we stop the cycle of sin in our lives? Support your answer with Scripture.
3. Look at the story of Saul and David. Saul was Me focused and David was God focused. In what ways is that true and how did that affect the outcome?
4. Read Galatians 5:16-26. Compare and contrast the acts of the sinful nature with the fruit of the Spirit. Which ones are ME focused and which are outward focused? What does that tell you about life by the Spirit?

Matthew 12:30-37 "Heart words"

Read Matthew 12:30-37.

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." NIV

Words are so difficult to control -- at least for me. I've gotten better as I have gotten older, but words can escape my mouth way beyond their bidding. And a hastily spoken word cannot be retrieved. It's out there like a black cloud floating between the conversers and will hover until a better word dispels the darkness. But what really concerns me is this "words coming from the heart" thing. If poorly spoken words come out of my mouth, I know that there is something in my heart that is not right, and I need to get with my Father on it.

In science we learn that something cannot be made from nothing. You must have a beginning substance. For good to come out of my mouth, I must have good within my heart, that fuels my thoughts, that formulates my words. If good is not coming out in my words, then there is sin in my heart that is being revealed through my mouth. That's when I must seek my Father to reveal my sin to me, face that sin as being real, ask for His forgiveness, and turn over that part of my heart to Him. It's sort of like spiritual surgery -- cut out the bad part and replace it with new. Then the body can function as it is designed to do.

Lord, guard my words. If there is anything in my heart that needs excising, please reveal it to me so I can confess and repent. I want my heart sold out to You and You alone. Let my words reflect that commitment.

Further Thoughts:

1. How does God's Word protect my heart and mouth? Read Psalm 119: 9, 11, 105.
2. If Christ is the Living Word (John 1:1, 14) and He lives in me, then what words should my mouth produce? If they don't, then there is an area of my heart I have not surrendered to Christ. Ask the Lord if there is an area you need to surrender. He will reveal it to you if you will listen with a humble heart.
3. This passage used the analogy of the good fruit coming from a good tree. Read John 15:1-17 and Galatians 5:22-26 for more on the fruit.
4. Psalm 19:14 is a great way to begin every day and every conversation.