Matthew 5: 13
You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
In Jesus' time, salt was highly valued. It was thought to be pure and to have a cleansing quality, so it was frequently offered as a sacrifice by the Jewish people. It was also used to season and to preserve food; to prevent meat from spoiling.
Jesus, in verses 10-12, has told his disciples that they will be persecuted for their faith, but they are to persevere and in fact rejoice in their suffering. Christians should approach each day with thankfulness and awareness of the presence of God. We should not flee or withdraw from the world but should live in the world openly as examples of Christ. By showing the world love and joy in a time of hate disciples would be acting as salt. In a world of strife and war Christians should be islands of peace. In a world of poverty and suffering, Christians should be sources of caring and help. In a world focused on materialism, power, and greed, Christians should offer the world a living example of Christ.
Salt, when added to a dish of food becomes part of that dish but is still distinct from the food. It flavors the food but does not become the food. If Christians become indistinguishable from the world they serve, then their salt loses it flavor and its preservative qualities. God desires us to be a people of the gospel, a people set apart and distinct, yet adding something to the world that the world cannot provide for itself.
We are to be in the world, involved in the world but not absorbed by it. We are to give the world a unique flavor- the flavor of the love of Christ.
Tomorrow we will study the light of the world.
Monday, March 13, 2017
Friday, March 10, 2017
Sermon on the Mount, Day 10 of 40: The Persecuted
Matthew 5: 10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Not all of our attempts at peacemaking will be successful. In these verses Jesus changes the focus from peacemaking to persecution; from those who seek to have good relationships with others to those who suffer hostility from others.
Jesus knew that the kind of life he was asking His followers to lead was very different to the kind of life the world asks a person to lead. The Apostle Paul, having been accused of "turning the world upside down" (Acts 17:6), wrote in 2 Timothy 3:12, "Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
The values of Christians, as described by Christ, are subversive to the culture in which it exists. Self-control, walking humbly, showing mercy, being transparent, offering forgiveness, living simply, loving your neighbors as you love yourself, loving your enemies, are spiritual values that can only be lived out by people who are led by the Holy Spirit, not by the leaders of this world.
Christians should not seek to be reviled and persecuted. And we are told that such "evils" will be unjustified. But if this happens, we should not fear or curse God. We are not to retaliate in kind. We should regard ourselves as blessed because the persecution and hate of the world is a sign that we are living the kind of subversive life Jesus described in the Beatitudes and it has been noticed.
The purpose of our light is not to hide it out of fear but to shine it into the world out of love for humankind. In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus taught "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
Show God's love to the world, even if it is rejected, and rejoice and be glad.
Monday, we will study the salt of the earth.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Not all of our attempts at peacemaking will be successful. In these verses Jesus changes the focus from peacemaking to persecution; from those who seek to have good relationships with others to those who suffer hostility from others.
Jesus knew that the kind of life he was asking His followers to lead was very different to the kind of life the world asks a person to lead. The Apostle Paul, having been accused of "turning the world upside down" (Acts 17:6), wrote in 2 Timothy 3:12, "Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
The values of Christians, as described by Christ, are subversive to the culture in which it exists. Self-control, walking humbly, showing mercy, being transparent, offering forgiveness, living simply, loving your neighbors as you love yourself, loving your enemies, are spiritual values that can only be lived out by people who are led by the Holy Spirit, not by the leaders of this world.
Christians should not seek to be reviled and persecuted. And we are told that such "evils" will be unjustified. But if this happens, we should not fear or curse God. We are not to retaliate in kind. We should regard ourselves as blessed because the persecution and hate of the world is a sign that we are living the kind of subversive life Jesus described in the Beatitudes and it has been noticed.
The purpose of our light is not to hide it out of fear but to shine it into the world out of love for humankind. In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus taught "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
Show God's love to the world, even if it is rejected, and rejoice and be glad.
Monday, we will study the salt of the earth.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Sermon on the Mount, Day 9 of 40: The Peacemakers
Matthew 5: 9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
We all love peace. Most people can remember a time when they felt a deep and abiding peace. We often look back on those times fondly and we look forward to feeling that way again. But the blessing in this passage is not on the peace lovers it is on the peace makers.
All followers of Christ are meant to be peacemakers. In John 1:12 we read "To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God." And in Galatians 3:26 we read, "For in Christ we are all children of God through faith." If we are children of God, then we are also peacemakers.
So, what does it mean to be a peacemaker?
People can make peace in their own hearts and souls. They can resolve their inner conflicts between good and evil and this will give them peace. Through the forgiveness of God, they come to terms with their pasts.
People can also make peace with other people by living in right relationships with them. Anyone who unites people and causes good relationships to exist is doing the work of God.
In discovering and revealing God's truth, peacemakers are led by the Holy Spirit instead of their worldly desires, motivations or prejudices. In Romans 8:14, Paul writes, "For all who are led by the Spirit are children of God."
Abraham Lincoln once said, "Die when I may, I would like it to be said of me that I always pulled up a weed and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow."
The children of God, led by the Spirit, plant flowers of peace where the weeds of strife and dissension once grew. They build bridges where people are divided. Where there is hate, they offer love and prayer. Where there are calls for retribution, they offer mercy. Where there is a longing for revenge, they offer forgiveness. Where there is persecution, they offer an outstretched hand.
Tomorrow we study the persecuted.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
We all love peace. Most people can remember a time when they felt a deep and abiding peace. We often look back on those times fondly and we look forward to feeling that way again. But the blessing in this passage is not on the peace lovers it is on the peace makers.
All followers of Christ are meant to be peacemakers. In John 1:12 we read "To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God." And in Galatians 3:26 we read, "For in Christ we are all children of God through faith." If we are children of God, then we are also peacemakers.
So, what does it mean to be a peacemaker?
People can make peace in their own hearts and souls. They can resolve their inner conflicts between good and evil and this will give them peace. Through the forgiveness of God, they come to terms with their pasts.
People can also make peace with other people by living in right relationships with them. Anyone who unites people and causes good relationships to exist is doing the work of God.
In discovering and revealing God's truth, peacemakers are led by the Holy Spirit instead of their worldly desires, motivations or prejudices. In Romans 8:14, Paul writes, "For all who are led by the Spirit are children of God."
Abraham Lincoln once said, "Die when I may, I would like it to be said of me that I always pulled up a weed and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow."
The children of God, led by the Spirit, plant flowers of peace where the weeds of strife and dissension once grew. They build bridges where people are divided. Where there is hate, they offer love and prayer. Where there are calls for retribution, they offer mercy. Where there is a longing for revenge, they offer forgiveness. Where there is persecution, they offer an outstretched hand.
Tomorrow we study the persecuted.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Sermon on the Mount, Day 8 of 40: The Pure in Heart
Matthew 5: 8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
For Jesus, it is never enough to simply comply with the law. Jesus is concerned with a person's heart. If I never murder someone and comply with the law but in my heart I actually want to murder someone, then, according to Jesus, I have complied with the laws of humans but not of God. In 1 Samuel 16:7 we read "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
In every action and interaction Jesus asks us to examine the motivations of our hearts. The heart is where our thoughts, desires and character reside. The heart is vitally important to Jesus. What we do, say, and think in our hearts is what Jesus came into this world to change.
As disciples, we should ask, are we serving God or are we serving ourselves? Do we give our service with a glad heart or do we serve reluctantly? Do we build others up or do we promote ourselves? In all things we are to be honest and utterly sincere, and, according to the Apostle Paul, in all things we are to be motivated by love.
I once knew a man that worked tirelessly at the church as a volunteer. No matter what time you were in the church, you would see this man performing some task that no one else wanted to do. But one day he came up to me and pulled a small notebook from his pocket and showed me, very proudly, all of the things he had done for the church and beside each accomplishment he had carefully recorded the number of hours he had spent on that task.
What was his motivation for showing me that notebook? What was his motivation for working in the church? Only he and God knew for sure.
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51: 10)
Tomorrow we study the peacemakers.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
For Jesus, it is never enough to simply comply with the law. Jesus is concerned with a person's heart. If I never murder someone and comply with the law but in my heart I actually want to murder someone, then, according to Jesus, I have complied with the laws of humans but not of God. In 1 Samuel 16:7 we read "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
In every action and interaction Jesus asks us to examine the motivations of our hearts. The heart is where our thoughts, desires and character reside. The heart is vitally important to Jesus. What we do, say, and think in our hearts is what Jesus came into this world to change.
As disciples, we should ask, are we serving God or are we serving ourselves? Do we give our service with a glad heart or do we serve reluctantly? Do we build others up or do we promote ourselves? In all things we are to be honest and utterly sincere, and, according to the Apostle Paul, in all things we are to be motivated by love.
I once knew a man that worked tirelessly at the church as a volunteer. No matter what time you were in the church, you would see this man performing some task that no one else wanted to do. But one day he came up to me and pulled a small notebook from his pocket and showed me, very proudly, all of the things he had done for the church and beside each accomplishment he had carefully recorded the number of hours he had spent on that task.
What was his motivation for showing me that notebook? What was his motivation for working in the church? Only he and God knew for sure.
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51: 10)
Tomorrow we study the peacemakers.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Sermon on the Mount, Day 7 of 40: The Merciful
Matthew 5: 7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Mercy resides in those who have realized their own utter helplessness and have put their trust in God (the poor in spirit); those who know and grieve their own sins and who repent (those who mourn); those who put aside their own pride and self-interests for the authority and will of God (the meek); those who seek righteousness above all things (those who hunger and thirst).
Being merciful involves knowing and experiencing Christ in a very personal way and being led by the Holy Spirit to reach out into the world to help those in need. It is not enough to simply know Christ. Those who know Him are called to go into the world; to encounter the hurting and to bring them comfort and peace.
In Matthew 9:13 we read of Jesus eating with sinners:
"And as he sat at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Christianity asks more from us than worshipping on Sundays and going through the motions (fulfilling our obligations). We are called to be broken before God, filled with God's mercy and grace, and then to offer the same to the world.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37), we find that mercy requires that we put aside our own needs and desires so that we can recognize the needs of others; mercy requires that we overcome our own prejudices and self pride so that we will be able to reach out to those who are different than us; mercy requires us to respond not with reluctant hearts but with hearts full of love, compassion, understanding and forgiveness; and finally, mercy requires us to translate these things into action and to go the extra mile for people that we may not know.
Tomorrow we study the pure in heart.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Mercy resides in those who have realized their own utter helplessness and have put their trust in God (the poor in spirit); those who know and grieve their own sins and who repent (those who mourn); those who put aside their own pride and self-interests for the authority and will of God (the meek); those who seek righteousness above all things (those who hunger and thirst).
Being merciful involves knowing and experiencing Christ in a very personal way and being led by the Holy Spirit to reach out into the world to help those in need. It is not enough to simply know Christ. Those who know Him are called to go into the world; to encounter the hurting and to bring them comfort and peace.
In Matthew 9:13 we read of Jesus eating with sinners:
"And as he sat at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Christianity asks more from us than worshipping on Sundays and going through the motions (fulfilling our obligations). We are called to be broken before God, filled with God's mercy and grace, and then to offer the same to the world.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37), we find that mercy requires that we put aside our own needs and desires so that we can recognize the needs of others; mercy requires that we overcome our own prejudices and self pride so that we will be able to reach out to those who are different than us; mercy requires us to respond not with reluctant hearts but with hearts full of love, compassion, understanding and forgiveness; and finally, mercy requires us to translate these things into action and to go the extra mile for people that we may not know.
Tomorrow we study the pure in heart.
Monday, March 6, 2017
Sermon on the Mount, Day 6 of 40: Those Who Hunger and Thirst
Matthew 5: 6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessedness comes to those who desire righteousness. Most people, if asked, would reply that, yes, they hunger and thirst for righteousness. But the Greek words that are used for hunger and thirst are words that indicate a complete and absolute hunger and a complete and absolute thirst for a spiritual righteousness that completely fills one's heart and soul; a desire for righteousness that is all consuming.
I think that people do not fully understand the concept of righteousness; that people are not prepared for the sacrifices that righteousness demands. The word used for righteousness is defined as a state of being that is acceptable to God. The poor in spirit and those who mourn (as defined in previous posts) know that a state of being that is acceptable to God is impossible to achieve except through Christ. Those with an all-consuming desire for righteousness must also desire Christ.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled, not through their own efforts but by the grace and mercy of God.
Tomorrow we study the merciful.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessedness comes to those who desire righteousness. Most people, if asked, would reply that, yes, they hunger and thirst for righteousness. But the Greek words that are used for hunger and thirst are words that indicate a complete and absolute hunger and a complete and absolute thirst for a spiritual righteousness that completely fills one's heart and soul; a desire for righteousness that is all consuming.
I think that people do not fully understand the concept of righteousness; that people are not prepared for the sacrifices that righteousness demands. The word used for righteousness is defined as a state of being that is acceptable to God. The poor in spirit and those who mourn (as defined in previous posts) know that a state of being that is acceptable to God is impossible to achieve except through Christ. Those with an all-consuming desire for righteousness must also desire Christ.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled, not through their own efforts but by the grace and mercy of God.
Tomorrow we study the merciful.
Sermon on the Mount, Day 5 of 40: Blessed are the Meek
Matthew 5: 5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
The meek are those who put aside their own pride and self centeredness for the will of God in their lives. Instead of relying on their own strength, they put their trust in God and are willing to be led by the Holy Spirit, knowing that God is good, and wherever he leads, it is for His good purpose.
We see this sort of meekness in the Apostle Paul, as described in Acts. During his travels, Paul is led by the Holy Spirit from city to city and from country to country, preaching the gospel, leading others to Christ and making disciples. It wasn't easy. During the course of these travels, Paul describes, in 2 Corinthians 11 the following hardships that he personally suffered:
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
The meek are those who put aside their own pride and self centeredness for the will of God in their lives. Instead of relying on their own strength, they put their trust in God and are willing to be led by the Holy Spirit, knowing that God is good, and wherever he leads, it is for His good purpose.
We see this sort of meekness in the Apostle Paul, as described in Acts. During his travels, Paul is led by the Holy Spirit from city to city and from country to country, preaching the gospel, leading others to Christ and making disciples. It wasn't easy. During the course of these travels, Paul describes, in 2 Corinthians 11 the following hardships that he personally suffered:
"24 Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked."
Yet, after each beating or stoning or shipwreck; after each sleepless night; after each instance of hunger and thirst, Paul is found in the next city, preaching the gospel, making disciples. After any one of these hardships, Paul could have given up. And who among us could have blamed him? But his own "meekness" would not let him. And the next day, hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit, he was willing to be led, knowing that God is good.
Tomorrow we will study the blessedness of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
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