Daily Reflections on Mt. 12:33-37 (How You Know You Need Mouthwash)

A friend of mine speaking on a passage from Rom 12 once talked about our conforming to the world versus conforming to the image in Christ. He was talking about how easy it is to put on a show. Outward appearance can be deceptive. He was emphasizing that it's what's inside us that matters most to God. But he also said something that I've never forgotten. He talked about the real us, the reactionary us. In the midst of the daily line of fire, who are we really. Then he used this illustration, "When you're in a supermarket and someone runs into you, what spills out all over them, 'Watch it, Buddy!' or the grace of God?"

So what's in your cup? Is is warm, nutritious, satisfying, delicious? Or is it rank and moldy? Is it capriciousness and hate and anger? Is it bitterness and hurt? Is it selfishness or selflessness?

Jesus, in this passage, shares an incredible insight into the heart of people. He says that out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. In other words, what's boiling in the heart is going to come out of the mouth eventually, especially when the pressure's on. Watch and listen to the everyday activities, conversations, reaction of person and that's who they really are.

Self analysis time. What's coming out of your mouth? Whining? Complaining? Arguing? Encouragement? Blessings? Joy? Negativity? Questionable conversations or language? Praise? Curses? Pettiness? Optimism? Hope? The words of Christ? Gossip?

"Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord." I want you to spill out on people. My heart isn't the purest. Some days when people bump into me, I'm afraid they get slimed. I need you to fill me daily, Lord so that your love and grace fills my heart.

Daily Reflections on 1 Cor. 4:1-7

Motives are a funny thing. What causes us to do the things we do? Something or someone ultimately motivates us to action. Without motivation we'd do nothing. My hunger causes me to eat (so does boredom). My tiredness causes me to sleep. An urgency promotes my action. My paycheck stimulates me to work. An empty tank causes me to gas up. On and on we could go.

Virtually everything we do or say is motivated by something; whether an experience (good or bad) or circumstance or need or opportunity or greed or self-preservation. Sometimes our motivations are genuine, good, authentic. Sometimes our motivations are selfish or evil or stem from anger. Sometimes our motivations are innocuous. Sometimes our motivations are monumental, historic or come from a life changing challenge.

The trouble with motivations is that sometimes we don't know where they're coming from. We aren't always sure of someone else's motives for doing what they're doing. We're suspicious or we're fooled. But the truth is, we don't always know what our own motives are. They may appear to be genuine, even to ourselves, but maybe.... We don't always trust the motives of others and sometimes we need to question our own motives.

But God knows our motives. He sees into our hearts and minds. So if I'm honestly living to Him and open myself to His leading and scrutiny, He'll shape me, mold me and direct me. My life focus should be simply, humbly seeking to be His servant.

As long as I'm seeking to be His servant, under His guidance and direction, than I can live in confidence (not pride). More and more I'm trying to live out my life for an audience of one. It doesn't really matter what others think. What matters is what God thinks. Surrendering your life as His vessel and seeking to please Him is the only proper and pure motive.

ADDENDUM:

I'm indebted, to Jill and Stuart Briscoe for this last insight that helped me. In this passage Paul seems to enjoy His privilege of being a servant or messenger for God. A lot of Christians/followers of Christ, because of a bad experience or personal sin think that they've lost the privilege of being called as a representative of Christ. It becomes a de-motivation for living fully to Christ and steals their true joy of living. If that's where you're at, it's time for a new motivation. The only way to get that is to meditate on God's Word so that the gratefulness and sense of privilege will fill your heart and mind. You'll begin to sense the grace and nature of God again in your life. Faithfulness can be renewed.