Salt and Light for the World

Morning: Psalm 45; Exodus 32:21-34; I Thessalonians 1:1-10

Evening: Psalms 47, 48; Matthew 5:11-16

When someone is called “salt of the earth”, they are the kind of person Jesus was encouraging us to be – bringing out the best qualities in others and in the world around … just like a little salt in food.  And they do it gently … too much salt overpowers the rest.  It’s a little harder to grasp the idea of being “light for the world” … You want to guard against the presumptuousness of knowing everything – good thing too.  But rather, be the light that shines just enough so that it shows the other’s true worth.

Don’t worry … the troubles won’t last for ever

Morning: Psalms 41, 52; Exodus 32:1-20; Colossians 3:18-4:18

Evening: Psalm 44; Matthew 5:1-10

Jesus’ blessings (the Beatitudes) are astounding … souls who long for goodness will have it; the bereaved will not be overwhelmed by the power of death; the gentle will fill the earth; those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied; the merciful will receive mercy; those whose hearts are transformed shall see God; the peacemakers are God’s children; those who suffer for what is right will find it; you are blessed when people hate and persecute you and speak evil against you, because you love what God loves.  Don’t worry … the troubles won’t last forever.

The world is full of miracles

Morning: Psalms 63:1-8; 98; Exodus 28:1-4,30-38; I John 2:18-29

Evening: Psalm 103; Mark 6:30-44

What to make of Jesus’ miracles?  The ‘feeding of the 5,000’ (and that was just the men!) appears in all 4 Gospels.  That the story enjoyed such currency in early Christianity suggests that it carries truth.  There were, by all accounts, 5,000 – 10,000 witnesses who would have discredited the story had it been a lie.  We cannot easily dismiss as fable – though some do – stories with such strong foundations. What is so difficult? … The world is full of daily miracles.  Why did people flock to Jesus?  Wasn’t it simply that he did, in fact, heal and feed them?

Values to live by

Morning: Psalms 30, 32; Exodus 25:1-22; Colossians 3:1-17

Evening: Psalms 42, 43; Matthew 4:18-25

In our materialistic culture, fame and fortune are acceptable values to live by.  There are many, though, who heed a different call … rather then their own success, they serve others and the well-being of the earth.  When Jesus calls Peter and Andrew, they cannot know that they will one day be known throughout the world for following Jesus.  Paul invites the Colossians to follow Jesus too … Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, forgiveness and, above all, love … let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts … and be thankful.  Values to live by.

Be ready! You don’t want to miss this …

Morning: Psalm 105:1-22; Exodus 24:1-18; Colossians 2:8-23

Evening: Psalm 105:23-45; Matthew 4:12-17

When Jesus speaks of the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’, he avoids the word ‘God’ out of reverence.  But he’s talking about God’s Kingdom, not a ‘heaven’ where you go when you die. Jesus’ hearers know he is a revolutionary.  In this revolution, God becomes king without the futile use of violence.  Violence cannot end violence.  Instead, Jesus announces that a new society is arriving imminently.  So be ready!  You don’t want to miss this.  You want to be a part of it … not so that you will become pious, but so that the whole world will come to itself.

Resist the temptation to be someone you’re not

Morning: Psalm 37:1-18; Exodus 20:1-21; Colossians 1:24-2:7

Evening: Psalm 37:19-42; Matthew 4:1-11

The story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness is famous … probably because it echoes our own temptations and falls from grace.  The temptation of Jesus also echoes the Biblical examples of those who are tempted and succumb, like Adam and Eve, or the people of Israel in their wilderness. But Jesus does not succumb.  In Jesus, the essence of true humanity is shown.  We think that it’s ‘just being human’ to give in to temptation; on the contrary, it is the truly human in us that resists the temptation to be someone we are not.

Expect the unexpected

Morning: Psalm 38; Exodus 19:16-25; Colossians 1:15-23

Evening: Psalm 119:25-48; Matthew 3:13-17

With Jesus, anything can happen, usually not what you expect.  It’s so surprising when people think they have figured Jesus out.  When John expects Jesus to assert his authority, Jesus submits to baptism by John in a moment of humility that indicates the significance of his whole life … he humbled himself.  There was a CBC radio personality called ‘the Voice.’  Today, the Voice is a hit TV vocal competition.  The Voice that is delighted with Jesus is bigger still and comes out of nowhere.  What delights this surprising Voice is how surprising Jesus is.  With Jesus, expect the unexpected.