PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:16-21, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
As I write this, a near civil war has broken out in Ukraine. Dozens, if not hundreds, of protesters have been killed by governmental forces amid the unrest. In Venezuela, demonstrations between pro- and anti-government groups have led to increasing levels of violence. In Afghanistan, war rages on. Closer to home, our governmental leaders are so entrenched in their opposing positions that they cannot work together to solve real problems. Consequently, millions of Americans are unemployed or underemployed. There's talk of increasing inequality, yet there's no plan to solve the problem. Millions of Americans continue to lose their health insurance. Our national debt continues to grow at an unsustainable rate. Around the world and at home, chaos abounds.
The headlines of today's newspaper and the headlines of the Bible are not all that different. In the Bible, we read numerous ugly stories about outrageous acts of violence and brutality and shocking indifference. From Genesis to Revelation, we witness the vandalism of God’s creation design and the desecration of persons made in God’s image. When we hear such stories, we rightly wonder: Where is the glory?
The author of Second Peter replies and tells us to pay attention to the good news as to a "light shining in a dark place" (verse 19). Notice the honest acknowledgment that following Jesus occurs in a dark place. It’s difficult out there. We’re often in trouble. It’s easy to get lost, frightened, or simply overwhelmed.
And yet, in that very place, a different headline is being written. A Lamp shines in the darkness. And still more, there are lamps shining in the darkness. As you and I live out the good news of God and follow the way of Jesus, we bear witness to glory. The smallest acts of kindness—a gentle word, a patient ear, a helping hand—all become candles in the darkness that light the way home.
PRAYER:
God of Light, keep me focused on the way of Jesus and shine brightly in the darkness of my life. Light up my own life that I may bring hope and goodness to those around me. By your Spirit, strengthen me to speak and live as a light bearer. In every interaction, may I spread the light of your gospel today. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (Matthew 17:1-9, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
In a scene reminiscent of Moses on Mount Sinai, Peter, James, and John have front-row seats to the opening night of God’s glory show. They witness Jesus, their friend and teacher, in splendorous dress, his face shining like the sun, his clothes brilliantly white. And then, strangely, Moses and Elijah walk right out of the glory days of long ago and straight into the neighborhood of now. Peter, feeling out of place like someone underdressed for a five-star restaurant, breaks the awesome silence with nervous chatter. Tripping over his tongue, I can imagine, he says to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here" (verse 4). Attempting to make the strange more familiar, Peter then proposes that he do something useful: "I will put up three shelters here." All this sounds reasonable enough. Peter projects confidence, like he knows what in the world is going on, and he aims to prove it with a hammer and a tent peg.
Then suddenly, the Voice speaks. Interrupting Peter’s good intentions, God acknowledges Jesus as the Beloved Son and instructs the disciples to "Listen to him!" (verse 5).
Sometimes we need to hear those words. Right now, it is not about me saying the right words. Right now, it is not about me doing more for God. It’s not about controlling the moment, scripting God’s work in my life, or domesticating the Divine. It’s about stopping. It’s about being silent for a while and listening and paying attention to Jesus. And because of that, it’s also about looking in the mirror and recognizing our own face as the face of God’s "beloved"—a son or daughter in whom God takes immense pleasure.
PRAYER:
Lover of my soul, I know I miss so much of what you are doing in and through and around me. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see the glory that is in front of me. By your Spirit, strengthen me to live awake to your presence and activity in my life today. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1 The LORD reigns,
let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.
2 Great is the LORD in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name—
he is holy.
4 The King is mighty, he loves justice—
you have established equity;
in Jacob you have done
what is just and right.
5 Exalt the LORD our God
and worship at his footstool;
he is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the LORD
and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.
8 LORD our God,
you answered them;
you were to Israel a forgiving God,
though you punished their misdeeds.
9 Exalt the LORD our God
and worship at his holy mountain,
for the LORD our God is holy. (Psalm 99, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, Alice expresses her inability to believe impossible things. The Queen responds in the following fashion: "I dare say you haven’t had much practice. When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
If you’re anything like me, what you do before breakfast is quite routine. From rising out of bed to pouring the first cup of coffee to showering to getting ready for the day, the pattern is fairly predictable. The Queen in Through the Looking-Glass suggests we add another item to our list of things to do before breakfast: Practice believing the impossible.
This is such good advice! We need help in seeing that which is unseen, noticing the beautiful, and believing that God is present right now—at this time in our lives, and right here in this particular place. We need practice believing that wonderfully more is going on in the world than what we see in the mirror or read in the newspaper.
Fortunately, certain habits train the mind to see invisibilities. The Queen advises Alice to "draw a long breath" and "shut [her] eyes" in order to believe impossibilities. In the same way, devotion to prayer and meditation on Scripture can open our eyes to God’s presence in the life we already know.
Let me suggest that having read the psalm for today, you now take a few moments to pray the psalm. Stretch out your soul in the spacious landscape of the psalmist's vision and say this of your own life: "God is king... The Lord is exalted... Our God is a lover of justice... The Lord God is a forgiving God.
Even if you've already had breakfast, it's not too late today to practice seeing that which is unseen.
PRAYER:
Lover of justice, help me to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you today and all the days of my life. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, 2 but Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”
3 When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.” 4 Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said.
He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”
8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky.11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.
12 The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. (Exodus 24:1-18, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
When I read this passage, I am usually drawn to the aura of glory revealed in the consuming fire and the shadowy cloud cover. In this encounter with God, something happens that overwhelms the senses, commands attention, and sanctifies the space as holy ground. Reading the passage again, I’m struck by the focus on time. God tells Moses to come and wait. Moses tells the elders, "Wait here for us" (verse 14). Moses goes up the mountain, a cloud settles over it for six days, and Moses waits for God. After God speaks, Moses spends another forty days and nights on the mountain—long enough for the people to wonder if their leader will ever return.
Pause for a moment, and consider these words from the text: "Come up to me" and "wait."
Perhaps you’ve noticed this before in reading through the Bible. A lot of people spend a lot of time waiting for God to act. Abraham and Sarah wait twenty-five years for God to keep the promise of a child. The Israelites wander in the wilderness for forty years before a new generation enters the Promised Land. Centuries later, the people of God are stranded in Babylon for seventy years.
I imagine that you know something about waiting. Like the people of God back then, you and I are waiting for God to act right now. If you are like me, you hunger for transformation and eagerly anticipate God’s showing up. Maybe not in a glory cloud or a devouring fire but to show up nonetheless—in your relationships, health, monthly budget, and the headlines of the local newspaper.
Draw strength from this fact: You’re not alone. We’re all in this together—wanting to see the glory, praying for help, waiting for an answer, and discovering God’s good news when the long wait is over.
PRAYER:
Gracious God, in your kindness, please grant us the "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). Stir our hearts and strengthen us form within so that we might wait for a deeper revelation of your glory. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, 2 but Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”
3 When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.” 4 Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said.
He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”
8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky.11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.
12 The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. (Exodus 24:1-18, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
On April 3, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. addressed a packed church in Memphis, Tennessee, attempting to awaken the conscience of a nation. He eloquently described the history of the struggle for civil rights in America and the difficult days that lay ahead. Nearing the end of his sermon, King reached a crescendo when he said, "I’ve been to the mountaintop." Those simple words were greeted with a thunderous response from the congregants. They knew the reference to Moses. They knew the ancient story of liberation. And they knew of their own restless yearning for freedom and equality. King concluded his message with hope, saying, "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." Those would be his last public words. The following day, King was shot dead outside of the Lorraine Motel.
Today’s reading returns us to the Exodus story that nourished Dr. King and provided inspiration for the civil rights movement. God has summoned Moses to the mountaintop for one more glimpse of divine glory. The nation of Israel has left the oppressive, but familiar, land of Egypt and is venturing toward an unknown land of promise. In between the agony they once knew and the glory that awaits them is a wilderness experience that will test their faith. The desert will become God’s pathway to the promise.
When life grew hard during Israel’s forty years in the wilderness, I suspect that Moses frequently recalled his mountaintop experience on Sinai. A mountaintop gives perspective. The panoramic view provides a larger landscape for our vision.
What inspires you when you find yourself lost in a spiritual desert? What sustains you during difficult days and long nights of struggle? Call to mind where you once caught sight of God’s presence. And look in faith to the future of God’s glory.
PRAYER:
God of fire and of cloud, grant us a vision of your abiding presence and give us strength for today. As Moses requested, so we cry out from our hearts: "Show us your glory." Enlighten the eyes of our heart that we may see you as you truly are. Grant us a revelation from above. Enliven us by your Spirit, so that we might know you as you truly are. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
"You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:38-48, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
Our transcendent God goes ahead of us, inspiring our thinking and enlivening our behavior, inviting us into a relationship that leads us deeper and deeper into community. "Love your enemies" (verse 44). Hebrew Scriptures record no words that encourage the hating of enemies.
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus states his standard of righteousness and reveals that all of us have fallen woefully short. Jesus offers a clear understanding of what God expects of each of us. Not only are we to love our enemies, but we are to pray for those who persecute us. These are matters of the heart rather than the head.
Jesus speaks these words to the faith community at a time when walls and barriers need to fall. He extends community beyond the Israelite tribes. Why? Because love is the nature of God’s character, and we are "children of [our] Father in heaven" (verse 45). We too love God and neighbor.
Some people might suggest that when Jesus said to love our neighbor, we could hate our enemies. This view gives us the right to choose whom we identify as enemy and neighbor. Yet, Jesus asserts that love is the basis of Christian community, a community not bound by a set of rules that excludes others. (Think back to the "expert in the law" who asked Jesus: "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus then responded by sharing the Parable of the Good Samaritan—Luke 10:25-37.)
Through the words of scripture, we have come to understand that love and holiness begin with God and then flow out through our interactions with others. They reach out beyond the church walls, revealed through our words and deeds toward the least, the last, and the lost.
As we grow in faith, we confess our need of companionship on the journey and we realize that the trek is impossible without the risen Jesus moving and working in our midst.
PRAYER:
Thank you, loving Savior, for healing our hurts, stretching us beyond our unforgiveness, and teaching us your love and compassion. Empower us today to share your love with the world around us. When conflict or strife arises, strengthen us to respond from a place of love. Through the Spirit's guidance, lead us to think, speak, and act from a heart overflowing with your love. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
"You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:38-48, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
"'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'" Here in the midst of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus issues radical responses to our natural desire for retaliation. He explains how to interpret the law within the context of love. We read these words as part of the explanation (see Exodus 21:22-25) of the Decalogue, which was written to limit the vengeance exacted for abuse. (We do not take a leg for an eye or a foot for a tooth.) As the Old Testament taught, "Do not say, 'I will repay evil'; wait for the Lord, and he will help you" (Proverbs 20:22).
In reality, both we and the Israelites have trouble waiting for God’s justice. We hold grudges against those who have wronged us and feel justified in doing so. While we may not openly display our anger, the seething spirit of anger within awaits the opportunity to raise its ugly head. Jesus addresses our natural inclinations with seemingly unnatural actions toward those who wrong us. We neither get even nor speak evil of the matter. We turn the other cheek. These startling responses call to mind our startling God, and they enable peaceful relationships that reflect our relationship with God. All will be reconciled through Christ Jesus.
Jesus teaches us to release revenge, to render good for evil. He calls us to forgiveness, to the surrender of our personal will to that of God, to let go and allow the love of God to permeate the entirety of our hearts. Living into "holy" requires so much from us—we achieve it only through giving ourselves to Jesus.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, in Jesus' name, we approach your seat of grace, asking for mercy and patience from you. We are so quick to retaliate when we feel slighted or wronged. By your grace, move us beyond our "eye for eye" thinking and living. Through the power of your Spirit, enable us to remember that Jesus willingly embraced abuse so that we might be reconciled to God. Help us to remember who we are in Christ. And, as those who bear his name, strengthen us to live from a heart overflowing with Christ's love. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. (1 Corinthians 3:10-23, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
In today's passage, the Apostle Paul shifts his metaphor from planting to building. Though we know Paul to be a professional tent maker, he spent much of his time consumed with building foundations. As he notes: "I laid a foundation as a wise builder" (verse 10). He goes on to state that while he laid the foundation, others have now taken up the work of building on it. Paul’s work of surveying, staking, and excavating in the Corinthian community has led to the establishment of a solid foundation in Jesus Christ.
Paul, the wise master builder of the faith community, established numerous churches in the Greco-Roman world. In today’s passage, he reminds the believers not only that they have a sure foundation but that they themselves are special buildings: temples, dwelling places of God’s Spirit. "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?... God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple" (verses 16-17).
However, some believers in Corinth want to acclaim particular individuals as their leaders. Perhaps they wish to name the churches in their honor. Paul reminds the divided believers that though many planted and watered, only God gave the increase. Despite the many master builders, there is only one foundation: Jesus Christ.
In a world of shifting sands, Christians need a sure foundation. The apostle Paul reminds us, "Do not deceive yourselves… the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight" (verses 18-19). We see many builders today, but the sure foundation of Christ does not change. This serves as a holy reminder that there is but One who loves unconditionally, forgives without penalty, and provides without priming. For we "belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God" (verse 23).
PRAYER:
Dear God, forgive our preference for worldly wisdom, our pompous pride, our self-reliance. Bring us back to your unshakable foundation. By your grace, strengthen us to live by the Spirit and to rest in Christ alone. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
33 Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace I dread,
for your laws are good.
40 How I long for your precepts!
In your righteousness preserve my life. (Psalm 119:33-40, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
The psalmist knows that the law of the Lord has the potential to perfect his life if he follows and obeys. His words voice the requests of one who desires God’s direction and a willingness to learn: "Teach me, LORD… Give me understanding… Direct me… Turn my heart… Turn my eyes."
"Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees" (verse 33). The psalmist yearns for more than intellectualizing; he desires a thorough understanding and personal enlightenment by God. He has many teachers, but he covets an intimacy with God for instruction and direction, daily application and a renewed lifestyle. The writer promises to "follow it to the end," an acknowledgment that this is a lifetime commitment. However, in following these statutes, he gains freedom from manipulation and control. Therefore, the desire is to refocus on the word of the Lord; only with God’s help can we navigate the twists and turns of life—and as Leviticus affirms, learn to love neighbor as self.
We too are invited to take these words for our own. As we come to trust and have faith in God, our lives change. Our words and behavior toward others reflect our understanding of God’s law. And by keeping God’s decrees from a heart of trust and delight, we draw ever nearer to God and through grace accept the will of God for our lives. Through the binding nature of covenant, the Holy One confirms the divine promise and gives us life.
PRAYER:
O God, as we study your word and seek a deeper intimacy with you, open our eyes of faith and trust, our ears and heart for understanding, our minds for greater wisdom. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
3 “‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.
4 “‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.
5 “‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the LORD, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 6 It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. 7 If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. 8 Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the LORD; they must be cut off from their people.
9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.
11 “‘Do not steal.
“‘Do not lie.
“‘Do not deceive one another.
12 “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
13 “‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.
“‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.
14 “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.
15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
17 “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.
18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:1-18, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
In a world that constantly changes, shifts, upgrades, and downsizes, we sense a merging in preparation of a world where scarcity becomes the new paradigm.
The clarion call from the writer of the Old Testament text is, “Be holy.” Holy—a word that goes unheard among the clanging noise of the gong and tinkling cymbals of our world’s antics.
What does it mean to be "holy"? The word "holy" is a translation of the Hebrew word "qadash," which means "to consecrate, dedicate, sanctify." The God of Israel embodies this meaning; therefore, those who worship this holy God are to reflect that characteristic in their living.
Moses, God’s hand-selected leader of the people of Israel, issues this message, which the nation is to hear as a mandate. Their mission is to be a people "called out" and "set apart" as God’s representatives. This people will enter a new land free from their bondage. The new land will bring new expectations. God’s holiness will become evident in Israel’s obedience.
These verses invite us to reflect on our daily walk of faith. How does our living reflect our obedience to a God of holiness? How do we attempt to restrict God’s will and power through our inattention to holiness? We may respond: "Who’s calling us to accountability? Who cares if we live in a holy way? Isn’t holy something we do in church? Isn’t that enough?"
Yet God’s call to live lives of radical obedience comes to us. The choice is ours. That call emphasizes the critical connection between holiness and obedience. We can move beyond the sphere of the common to the place of the sacred.
............
Holiness calls for radical change. We move beyond merely stating that we are holy because God is holy by actually living in this countercultural way. We can easily declare our sanctity; enacting it becomes more difficult—especially in a world with such a wide chasm between the wealthy and the economically disenfranchised.
The harvest provision notes an important aspect of Israel’s ethical tradition. The gleanings of fields and vineyards are to be left deliberately for the poor and the sojourner. This economic requirement, which costs the farmer, is an act of social justice. We may pontificate about our generosity when our "fields" are flourishing. Even then we may assert that these fields belong to us—but we’re expected to leave behind grain and grapes for the poor traveler? Holiness and obedience to a holy God require that we leave gleanings for people we do not know or choose to know. How easily we allow our holier-than-thou attitudes to prohibit the holy will of God for our lives.
Obedience issues in the desire to do God’s will. The request does not entail a handout to the wayside traveler; it entails leaving food in the field so that the wanderer does not have to become a beggar. God provides and invites our participation in the providing.
.............
We acknowledge that living a holy life involves more than a simple affirmation or fair treatment of the poor and less fortunate; it is a call to transformation.
No longer can we simply view the condition of others, offer a helping hand, and believe that we have done our part. God is inviting us into relationship and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Today’s scripture probably calls to mind those parameters we call the Ten Commandments: Do not lie. Do not steal. Do not deal falsely. These are no fly-by-night requests. The Lord commands that the change in our lives extends to others—not only to our loved ones but to our workplace colleagues and those in our neighborhoods. The change includes our actions, reactions, and inactions. Partiality and favoritism drop out of the equation; retaliation and grudge-holding are not tolerated.
Today’s scripture raises concern about the well-being of the economically disadvantaged (those who are oppressed) and the physically disadvantaged (those who are subject to abuse). Our relationship to a holy God manifests in our caring relationship to and concern for others—dealing fairly with all people. "Do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly" (verse 15).
Notice the repeated words after each prohibition: "I am the LORD." God’s character is made manifest in God’s people. So we have work to do—personal, confrontational, and unavoidable. Often we want to choose our "holy," but today’s scripture lays out clear guidelines. God’s people must desire holiness; we cannot choose our "holy."
PRAYER:
Gracious God, would you gently move us beyond our tendency to compromise. By your grace, lead us to a place of resolution. Help us to set aside self-defeating attitudes and learn to share with the poor and forgotten. You are a holy God. We, as your people, are called to be holy, as well. Empower us to surrender our will to yours, for in so doing we know you will teach us to love our neighbor and to live a holy life.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
3 they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me. (Psalm 119:1-8, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
This psalm is divided into sections, arranged in the order of the Hebrew alphabet. We lose the psalmist’s intricate development of the psalm in translation. What we don’t lose is the high regard with which the psalmist holds God’s law, and the positive outcomes he believes come from living according to that law. The entire psalm is one of praise and thanksgiving for God’s divine revelation to humankind, embodied in the law, which blesses those who keep it: Happy are they! The first three verses of this psalm note the well-being that comes with living according to God’s law.
The next few verses stress the importance of the law in God’s thinking: “You [God] have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed”—obeyed "from the heart." And finally, our passage closes with the psalmist’s affirmation and desire to keep God’s law—a resolve to live God’s way. Happy, then, is the psalmist. Deep down, everybody desires happiness, don’t they? What does happiness mean here?
Happy are those who are wealthy? beautiful? famous? No. For the psalmist, happiness comes from seeking God with the whole heart, living blamelessly, and following God’s way.
This week’s meditations place choices before us: We choose how we will live. Through love of God, we allow that love to shape our lifestyle—individually and communally. We close this week with this reading from the prayer book of the Bible. The first half of these verses offer proverb and exhortation, giving glory to God for God’s commands and encouragement to us to live in them. The second half give voice to worship and supplication, seeking God’s help to live according to God’s way so we can offer praise from a right heart. May this be the prayer of our hearts as well.
PRAYER:
Thank you, God, for revealing to us the way to true happiness that lies in you alone. Help and guide us as we seek to follow your way of love. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." (Matthew 5:21-26, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus takes the commands of the law and shows how they provide a blueprint for a way of being fully, genuinely, gloriously human. This new way, which Jesus had come to pioneer and make possible, goes deep down into the roots of personality and produces a different pattern of behavior altogether.
It begins with smoldering anger against someone very close to you. Okay, okay… it may not result in murder; but the point of the commandment against murder was not that you should stop short of killing someone, but that you should never get near even the thought that you wish they were dead.
What "judgment" will you incur (verse 22)? God’s judgment, clearly; but this isn’t simply an arbitrary punishment that will catch up with you eventually, but rather a judgment that will begin right here, right now.
Every time you decide to let your anger smolder on inside you, you are becoming a little less than fully human. You are deciding to belittle yourself, to live in a way that is less than you were designed. Of course, if you let your anger turn into ugly and abusive language, sooner or later you may find yourself in court. And if you are the sort of person who sneers at everybody and calls them hateful names, the fire inside you may eventually become all that’s left of you, as Gehenna—the smoldering garbage dump of ancient Jerusalem—may take you over completely.
What’s the alternative? Jesus offers two remarkably specific and practical commands. "Be reconciled." "Make friends." How simple that is—and yet how hugely difficult and costly! It will almost certainly involve climbing down from the high pedestal on which you have placed yourself, abandoning your position of superiority over the person you’re angry with. But genuine humans don’t live on pedestals; they have their feet on the ground, on a level with everybody else.
In particular—and this is very striking!—reconciliation takes precedence even over worship. Jesus imagines someone getting all the way into the Temple courtyard, buying a sacrificial animal on the way, and suddenly remembering (as well one might, when approaching the presence of the loving and holy God) some relationship that has gone wrong. The scene then becomes almost comic. It takes about three days to get back to Galilee, where most of Jesus’ hearers lived. He cannot seriously have imagined an anxious worshipper leaving a live animal sitting there in the Temple courts for a week while they scurried back home, apologized to the offended person, and then returned to Jerusalem. As so often in his teaching, he seems to use hyperbole, to exaggerate to make the point. The point is that you must live, day-by-day, in such a way that when you come to worship there is no anger between you and your neighbor, your sister, your brother. Impossible? Jesus implies that it isn’t, now that he is here to show the way.
Then the picture widens. You and a neighbor are actually going before a judge to fight out your legal differences. Don’t even get to court, he says. Sort it out beforehand, or you may end up in jail and paying every penny you have. This may well be good advice as it stands, but it most likely reaches far beyond mere lawsuits. Israel in Jesus’ day was in trouble, oppressed by pagans from outside and by rich aristocrats from inside. Many Jews longed for their day in God’s court when they would be proved right and their enemies overthrown. Don’t even think of it like that, says Jesus. Make friends, not enemies. He will return to this point later in the chapter (verses 38–48). Otherwise, what will happen? Your enemies may win after all, and then what will you do?
All this is, of course, impossible. That is, it’s impossible until you look at Jesus. As we continue through Matthew’s story, we discover that our natural question ("How can anyone possibly do what he says?") is eventually answered. Jesus himself refused to go the way of anger. Instead, he took the anger of his enemies on to himself, and died under its load. From that point on, reconciliation is not simply an ideal we might strive for. It is an achievement—an accomplishment—which we in turn must now embody as Spirit-led followers of Christ.
PRAYER:
Gracious God, forgive our anger and mean-spirited attitudes toward others, and help us to seek reconciliation where it is needed. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:1-9, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
Although I, personally, had a great time in high school, it seems that most people I know had a really negative experience in high school. Based on conversations with most of my adult friends, it seems that the high school years were quite painful. Many folks have memories of feeling quite awkward, as if they just didn't fit in. Many felt judged by where and with whom they “belonged.” It seems that most folks would not want to go back and relive those days of growing up and trying to find their place.
I imagine the Corinthian church to which Paul writes resembles a typical high school. Paul started this strong and gifted church on his second missionary journey. Its congregants were largely Gentiles who needed guidance in moving from their former religious lifestyle to the higher standards of the Christian life they are now called to live. They have received the Holy Spirit but are not mature in the faith yet; they are, in fact, acting decidedly immature. Paul describes them as “infants in Christ.” They are not yet “spiritual people” who are ready for solid food. Paul himself serves as a “wet nurse,” feeding them with milk.
Evidence of their being infants in Christ is the quarreling and jealousy among members of the community. Cliques form within this church as people align themselves with different ministers—Paul and Apollos being mentioned specifically. Each group thinks itself better than the others; jealousy and bickering run rampant. Instead of seeking unity and spiritual maturity, they choose to fill the church with division and competition, behavior better suited to human inclinations and the world of the flesh. Paul writes to remind the Corinthians that all believers are servants of God, and the common purpose is to love God and live God’s way. All unite in Christ for the glory of God.
Just as with the Corinthian believers, faith in Christ now requires that we live by the highest standard—loving God, first and foremost, and allowing that love to shape all our actions and relationships . Paul reminds the Corinthians—and us—that choosing to love God includes loving others and seeking unity.
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, make us one in Christ and one with each other. We need your help to grow in grace and love. We cannot do this ourselves. So, we look to you for strength and inspiration, asking that you might make us more like Jesus so that we might follow in his way of love. Amen.
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30:11-20, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
Last week while fiddling around on the Internet, I came across the perfect piece of artwork for our son's room...
The poor little guy isn't yet five years old, and he's already heard us quote the above message to him approximately 399,741 times. By the time he's a teenager, I'm sure he'll have heard this message billions of times. Hopefully, the truth of this message will "click" with him in such a way that he'll begin making wise choices that lead to a full and fruitful life. Hopefully…
............
Moses has been leading the Israelites for forty years—ever since their deliverance from Pharaoh out of Egypt. They have seen God’s amazing care and provision for them repeatedly, as well as having experienced God’s power up close and personal. Despite all God has done for them, Moses knows all too well how stubborn the Israelites can be and how often they choose to complain and see only the negative of any given situation—which explains why they are only now on the verge of the Promised Land.
God has already told Moses that he won’t be entering the land with the people; Moses knows that he will soon die. These verses in Deuteronomy are part of his farewell speech—his last chance to guide the flock he’s been shepherding for so long, the last chance to help them. He will no longer be around to intercede with God on their behalf; they will have to sink or swim on their own now. So he lays it all out for them, in as much detail as possible. The Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, are filled with the instructions from God that Moses gives Israel on how to live.
But in the end, Moses keeps it simple: Love God and choose life, or love other gods and choose death.
............
Poor Moses. I can imagine his frustration; I hear it in verse 19. Although the people have driven him nuts for decades, he cares about them. I think he’s worried because he knows them—their weaknesses as well as their strengths. He truly wants them to choose well; to know they will love God, live, and be blessed. Yet, he fears they won’t choose wisely. Perhaps that’s why he sounds so harsh—because he’s worried.
Moses sets before the people a choice between blessings and curses, life and death. He cannot make this choice for them, but he does all he can to ensure they realize the importance of getting this decision right. God’s promises are on the line, promises that have passed down from generation to generation since the time of Abraham. The Israelites have seen with their own eyes what God can do for them and what life is like when God removes divine blessing.
This decision involves more than individual assent to a set of propositions, however; it involves the whole community. Moses has set out the principles, regulations, commandments, and laws, but this choice comes down to more than simply following rules. At the very heart of the law is one command: "Love the Lord your God." Moses says this twice in these few verses: Fulfill the law by loving God. Those who love God will keep God’s commands and walk in God’s ways. Those ways will set Israel apart from the surrounding nations. Moses warns them not to let their hearts be drawn away by anything or anyone else.
This remains the case for us today. The choice is ours, and Moses encourages us to love God and choose life!
PRAYER:
Loving Father, thank you for being such a generous and wise parent to us—for giving us choices and for sending us guides to help us choose. By your grace, enlighten the eyes of our heart. Move deep within our hearts, revealing to us your goodness and generosity. And lead us, by your Spirit, to choose you—today and every day of our lives. Amen.
WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I find it interesting that my little piece of intro artwork for Benjamin's room goes right along with the message Greg preached on yesterday. What a coinkidink...
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:13-20, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
Scholars agree that Matthew’s Gospel was written for members of a predominantly Jewish community, newly converted as Christ-followers. Matthew often quotes the Old Testament and portrays Jesus as the new law-giver. "Righteousness" is a recurrent theme. Chapter 1 refers to Joseph as a “righteous man” though he follows not a traditional understanding of righteousness but a series of dreams given to him by the Holy Spirit. In today’s story, Matthew challenges us to probe into what it means to be right with God and right with humanity.
Read in this context, Matthew 5:17-20 seems surprising. Jesus makes it clear that the righteousness of his followers must differ from that of the scribes and Pharisees. This week, we’ve outlined the way God calls us to a new kind of righteousness—a righteousness that seeks justice and includes the poor (Isaiah 58); a righteousness modeled after Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2); a righteousness that delights in God even in the midst of evil and disturbing times (Psalm 112). Perhaps Matthew does not want this new community to stray too far from the Torah law that has grounded them for centuries. The New Testament and the church’s history record stories of communities who strayed too far in pursuit of the Spirit.
While Matthew’s Gospel seems tough, it provides a balance that has guided the Christian community for centuries. Matthew displays such balance by using the word "unless." In this passage, it sounds an ominous warning: “Unless your righteousness surpasses..., you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The next time the word occurs is in Matthew 18:3—“Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Perhaps when we take both verses to heart, we’ll come closer to knowing how Jesus wants us to live.
.............
As we'll see over the next couple of weeks, throughout the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is, on the one hand, challenging—even chiding—the notion that righteousness can be reduced to rule-keeping. In the words of the Apostle Paul: “No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin” (Romans 3:20). Jesus is, on the other hand, claiming to be the personified fulfillment of everything the Law and the Prophets anticipated in terms of the Kingdom of God, eternal life, and righteousness.
The basic mistake we have made across time has been to read this sermon as good Pharisees and to debate it as pedantic scribes. Jesus intended for his apprentices in kingdom living to discern a righteousness that “surpasses” (NIV) or “exceeds” (NRSV) that of the theologians, biblical scholars and seminary professors of his day. Yet we have been taught to read these three chapters from the Gospel of Matthew as the tightening up of laws already beyond anyone’s ability to follow without failure. Jesus is said to have "raised the bar" in his teachings, as if he is expecting us to go beyond the righteousness of the religious leaders of his day. As Dallas Willard says: "Jesus is presented as more relentless and meaner than Moses." Misunderstanding what he says, we have made the morally impossible into spiritual hopelessness.
Dallas Willard is so insightful when he writes:
"We need to put the idea of laws entirely out of our minds. Jesus is working … at the much deeper level of the source of actions, good and bad. He is taking us deeper into the kind of beings we are, the kind of love God has for us, and the kind of love that, as we share it, brings us into harmony with his life. No one can be 'right' in the kingdom sense who is not transformed at this level. And then, of course, the issue of not being wrongly angry, not expressing contempt, not calling people [fools], and so on is automatically taken care of."
The purpose of every divine law—whether written on stone tablets or into the intuitive consciousness of every human being—has been to liberate people. God’s holy purpose is not to enslave his creatures with rules but to free us from the things that would keep us from loving one another. The way the Pharisees and scribes were using the Law of Moses was having the opposite effect of making people brittle, harsh, and judgmental with one another. They had turned law into an end in itself—more concerned for actions than attitudes, reputation than character, externals than internals. Jesus is calling us back to heaven’s original intent through this sermon. He is showing us the path to whole-heart, whole-life discipleship that reaches to the depths of our personalities and beings.
PRAYER:
O God , keep me from taking myself too seriously. Instead, let me delight in you as Creator, Savior, and Friend. Help me to take steps to rest in you, to trust you to change me from the inside out. Take my heart and transform it at the deepest levels, so that I might grow to reflect the goodness and righteousness of your Son. Amen.
WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I've been re-reading Dallas Willard's study on the "Discourse on the Hill" (what he calls the Sermon on the Mount). His insights on this most important teaching our so revolutionary! As he reminds us, Jesus is the smartest man that ever lived—the most brilliant teacher of truth. As such, Jesus certainly had a plan in what he taught—his sermon had a definite "flow" and "theme" to it. These are not simply random statements pieced together. Also, Jesus undoubtedly knew that true and lasting life-change occurs at the heart level. Here's a quick snippet from The Divine Conspiracy:
"The aim of the sermon—forcefully indicated by its concluding verses—is to help people come to hopeful and realistic terms with their lives here on earth by clarifying, in concrete terms, the nature of the kingdom into which they are now invited by Jesus’ call: 'Repent, for life in the kingdom of the heavens is now one of your options.' The separate parts of the discourse are to be interpreted in the light of this single purpose. They are not to be read as one disconnected statement after another. One must discern the overall plan of life within which the separate parts of the discourse make sense.
"So far from being additional laws to crush us or show us we can’t make it on our own (of course we can’t!), the separate parts are distinct perspectives on the sweet life of love and power, of truth and grace, that those who count on Jesus can even now lead in his kingdom. 'The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus the Anointed' (John 1:17). His teachings illustrate how those alive in the kingdom can live, through the days and hours of their ordinary existence, on their way to the full world of God."
PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:13-20, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
Picture Jesus’ disciples gathered on the hillside. Jesus has recently called them from their fishing nets. After pronouncing the Beatitudes, he says to them, “You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world.” They probably wondered who he was talking about! They have only begun to follow him. No boot camp, no instruction manual, no on-the-job training—yet Jesus declares their worth and value to the whole world.
Today we may call someone a “salty Christian” when he or she brings experience and determination to his or her call. Salty Christians flavor the soup of Christian community. They encourage the rest of us to sit up and take notice by challenging our complacency and reminding us to hang in there when things are tough. They are aware of their spiritual poverty and their eyes have been opened to the poison and pain of sin, so that their heart grieves over their own sin and the sins of others. They have a spirit of humility before others and God, their heart is open to the guidance of the Spirit, and they always seek to walk in submission to God's authority. Hungering and thirsting for righteousness, they have an intense desire to be right with God and man. This desire fills them with a willingness to show mercy, to pursue peace, and to bring others into the reconciled relationship with God.
“Light-bearing Christians” bring hope in darkness. They help us see God in places we couldn’t imagine. Rusty Brandon is one example from my life. He serves as the Director of Recreation and Outdoor Learning at Highland Lakes Camp. Despite the stress, strain, and long hours of work at Highland Lakes, he continually moves about with a smile on his face and an encouraging word on his lips. When many grow overwhelmed by the task at hand, he steps in a heavenly perspective and sense of humor that encourages his coworkers to rest in the Lord. Seeming to never lose sight of the church’s mission, he is constantly working to build relationships with his fellow believers and unbelievers alike—despite the fact that he has an incredibly busy schedule and a huge amount of responsibility.
Sometimes the salty Christians are also the light-bearers. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Make notes of the qualities of each, then make your own list of “salty Christians” and “light-bearing Christians.”
How do the qualities of salt and light add to the discussion of a new kind of righteousness?
Finally, consider how you can grow in your saltiness and in your light-bearing capacity.
PRAYER:
O God , when I am tired or discouraged and find it difficult to be your disciple, help me to remember the salty, light-bearing Christians in my life and, most of all, your hope in me. Amen.
WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and I am so thankful for the body of Christ! How wise, generous, and good is our God! Despite all our differences... despite all our peculiarities... despite all our unique personalities... He has knit our hearts together and made us one! As we share ourselves with one another, we all grow up in Christ and become mature in the Lord, "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-16).
