The Everyday Prayer

¹² “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” John 14:12

If we are not careful, we run the risk of over-spiritualizing Jesus’ description of Kingdom people being salt and light, when in fact he was describing real impact in the real world. Jesus modeled for us what he meant; everywhere he went he restored the lives of the sick and broken, he rescued others from demonic possession, and he spoke words that changed everyone who received them.

Jesus said, “You will do what I have done. You will do even greater things.”

Do you believe that?

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:13-16 (day five)  

What if you heard these words of Jesus for the first time in the context and culture of the society of Jesus days on earth?

As Jesus continues this sermon,  He speaks directly to His followers.  You are salt. You are light. I doubt they had ever been told they could be of any use in religious matters. Weren’t smart enough. Weren’t righteous enough. Weren’t trained or educated enough. Then all of a sudden, the message is clearly communicated. There is a place for you in the  Kingdom of God. There is a purpose for you in the Kingdom of God. There is potential for you in the growth and mission of the Kingdom of God. What an amazing message for them and for us!!  We have the same place, potential, and purpose in the Kingdom of God right here, right now. This is who we really are. Hear the hope and opportunity for each us in Jesus words-  You are salt!  You are light!  

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:13-16 (day four)

In our house, one of our favorite cookbooks is Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. It has great recipes, but even more importantly, it explains why those four elements are essential in making a great meal. Salt is important in cooking because it brings out the flavor that already exists in the other ingredients. It helps us perceive the wonderful, natural flavors of the food we’re eating.

As the salt of the earth, we’re called to help people perceive the goodness of God that exists in the earth he created, and in the presence of his Spirit. As salt, we help bring the God-flavor of the world to peoples’ senses. Sin tends to dull our tastebuds and make it more difficult for us to perceive God’s goodness. As salt, we invite people to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Similarly, we can’t perceive color in the dark. The dark world that we live in makes it difficult to see where God is. As the light of the world, we help people see the beautiful God-color all around them. We’re not creating flavor or color of our own, we’re simply pointing people to the miraculous goodness that already exists in the presence of God. Let’s consider: how does your life help others taste God’s goodness? How do you help people perceive God’s beauty?

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:13-16 (day three)

“A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Jesus spoke these words to a society very familiar with overt attempts to appear pious and holy. But if you love God, you don’t need to come up with any proof — actions, words, or appearance. Those things are already happening in the life of one who loves God. Later, Jesus would say, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Again, love is self-evident. He wasn’t saying that commandment-keeping is the next step you need to master after proclaiming your love, but rather that if you love Jesus, you’re already keeping them. Who told you that you have to try really hard to shine? You’re shining. You can’t help it.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:13-16 (day two) 

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. vs. 16

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” C.S. Lewis

Think of someone in your life who simply radiates the love of Jesus. Do they have a glow about them? If you are thinking of someone like I am, they certainly do. What amazes me is how clearly they understand the source of all hope and joy. They see that it is not anything about themselves, but everything about who Jesus is, and what he has done in their lives. When our lives become more about Jesus, and less about self we become a beacon, a lighthouse, a way point to a world that cannot comprehend light.

If you think about it more, it is a sad reality that you don’t know more people who radiate Jesus love. It makes the ones who do shine brighter, but our prayer should be that we fill the world with his love, so we all can shine.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:1-12 (day seven)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

In the moment of this writing, an infant is fast asleep in my arms. As this blessing from God sleeps so soundly, I know it is only a matter of time before he wakes and will begin to wail. His crying is a signal, a literal cry for help, and the only way to cure it is to give him what he wants: milk!

Questions begin to race through my mind. Do I crave righteousness like this? Do I wake up with a longing and yearning to be spiritually nourished? Do I have a one track mind to find the One who can give me what I want? Will I make sure that everyone around me knows Who I need? Even if I try to satisfy my hunger with other things, nothing quite quenches my desire like the Bread of Life.

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

The Beatitudes (which is just a fancy word meaning blessed) are descriptions of the attitudes and values of the children of God. Those who mourn recognize that all is not right in the world; that humanity willfully embraces sin and corruption. Those who mourn recognize all too well that they are not only onlookers but participants in this corruption.

The good news is that they are not left in their mourning but are blessed by God’s comfort. What a promise! In this blessing, we discover that God knows our sorrow and cares about our grief. Not only, but he does something about it:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” -Jesus, Matthew 11:28

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:1-12 (day five)

“He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,”
Can you imagine hearing Jesus’ words found in Matthew 5-7 for the very first time?  Having been recently recruited to follow Him.  The intensity of the growing onlookers- continuous healing, teaching, and preaching. Being with Jesus as He retreated from the large crowds. Him sitting down and encouraging/challenging them- reshaping and clarifying the perspective and possibilities of a life that is pleasing to God. It was revolutionary!! There’s hope in these words.  There’s opportunity in these words. There’s wisdom in these words. There’s life in these words.

Let’s look and listen intently for the next 13 weeks at these words. May we come to the same conclusion that Peter did, “Lord… you have words of eternal life.”May we find hope, wisdom, and life from the “Sermon on the Mount”.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:1-12 (day four)

I love that while we wait with anticipation for the birth of Christ during this season of Advent, we’ll get to read some of his most famous words. What a uniquely Christian opportunity, to get to hear from our Savior even while we prepare our hearts to receive him. This is the spiritual reality in which we live: Christ has come, Christ is here, and Christ will come. Christ has come – he walked this earth, preached this sermon, died on the cross, and rose again. Christ is here – he is constantly in our midst through the power of the Spirit, interceding for us at the right hand of God. Christ will come – we live with confidence that Christ will return for his bride just like he said he would. All of these are mysteriously true at the same time, and reading the Sermon on the Mount during Advent makes us all the more aware of this reality.

As we prepare our hearts to celebrate that Christ has come, we may find that Jesus is describing us in this sermon. If you find yourself poor in spirit or at the end of your rope, grieving, or trying to move through the world with gentleness and mercy and peace but struggling with the harshness of the world – be encouraged. Jesus is giving us a picture of the Kingdom reality that he came to establish. We experience this reality now through the Spirit, and we have assurance that this reality will be established in full when Christ comes in glory.

As we celebrate what Christ has done, may it strengthen us today and give us hope for tomorrow.