Daily Reflections from our Re:Verse Scripture
Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:1-12 (day one)
Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty, and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Matthew 5:1-12 in our Winter Re:Verse Series: “The Sermon on the Mount – Living Kingdom Values.”
Re:Verse reading–Matthew 5:17-48 (day six)
We were made for Kingdom living.
Right away Jesus tells us the result of Kingdom living, “In the same way let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) Jesus identifies for us the natural display of God in Kingdom living. When we live for the Kingdom as people of the Kingdom, God is exalted; all of creation sees God’s image in us. When we get back to the heart of the matter, loving God and others, the image of God in us illuminates everything around us, and that is real living, for we were made to do just that; we were made in the image of God. We were made for Kingdom living.
Re:Verse – Matthew 5:1-12 (day six)
“And he opened his mouth and taught them saying…” Matthew 5:2.
Although simple, there is great significance in these words. Jesus came to die; to live a life without sin and take our sin to the Cross, and yet “he opened his mouth and taught.” One would think His teaching unnecessary in light of bigger things. These words not only set the scene for the greatest sermon ever preached, but also reveal to us a whole view of Jesus’ ministry to us. Jesus had to teach. Later he would tell us he only speaks what the Father tells him to say, and he would tell his disciples the Holy Spirit would help them remember all he has said. Why? Why was it necessary for Jesus to “open his mouth?”
Jesus taught to help us make sense of the cross; that we might have a sense of desperation that draws us to the Gospel. He also taught us so that once free of our sin we might make sense of this life. If Jesus opened his mouth, than by all means, we must listen!