# 1 2017 Dev. Mt. 5:13-16. We want to continue with Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” this year alternating between Jesus’ Sermon and an Old Testament Passages. We trust God to bless us. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Matthew 5:13-16
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.”
We have finished the introduction to Jesus’ sermon, The Beatitudes, they are the expectations Jesus lays out and blesses us when we practice them in His name. The sermon is about our attitudes, our actions and our ethics as people belonging to the “Kingdom of Heaven”. We move to the main body of Jesus’ message.
Jesus’ message covers three chapters, Mt. 5,6,7. His teaching is revolutionary! He turned a very legal understanding of God’s Word, probably the Septuagint, upside down! This is a guide to all the teachings of the New Testament, and the New Covenant of Jesus’ blood, His sacrifice for us, this is the way of Jesus.
Mt. 5: 3-12 is the baseline for the message, these nine attitudes that we discussed and accompanying blessings allow us, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to hear the Way of Jesus and follow the Way of Jesus. From Jesus’ time on earth true Christians are people of the Way.
Therefore, Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount compels His followers to be salt and light in the world. Not only because Jesus commands it but also because His Words hold the key to the Light of God. The verses for this week: 13-16 called “Salt and Light” and teaches us that following Jesus is a complete experience, we see the light, we feel the power, and we taste the goodness. But Jesus warns us that salt affects taste, life can be sweet, spicy and good, we are the salt in society but if we lose our saltiness (our Jesus-ness) we lose our good affect on those around us.
We also “are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” A light is lit for the purpose of giving light and must not be hidden, Jesus tells us. God’s light shines through Jesus’ followers, let’s keep it high and bright. Jesus wants everyone to see our good works, (God’s Light) not for our praise but to the praise of God our Father! Shine on!
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