I'm trying to memorize today's text.
After my kids get on their bus I'll be mounting my bike and peddling to work.
It's about a 10km trek.
My plan is to chew on the passage while I ride.
I'll tell you how it went later this morning.
*Update*
So, here's what I learned as I meditated and cycled:
It's easier to climb hills in a car than on a bike, especially when your loaded down with stuff on your back. And, in Jesus day, when they wanted to build a city on a hill it was going to take a lot more effort, pain, and hard labour than if they built it in a valley.
I had to dismount my bike at least 3 times this morning because I couldn't make it up a couple of hills.
Jesus never said it was going to be easy to be the light of the world. As I walked up those hills I wondered how many people fail to set up camp on the hill because it requires too much effort. Too much discipline.
But the sacrifice was well worth it when I reached the hill's summit. Because gravity did all the work on the way down.
I wonder how often God's people miss being carried by the Spirit after a long, disciplined climb to the summit to build the city?
7 comments:
Hmmm the phase "salt of the earth" is something that I often hear at church, but haven't really ever understood it.
Looking at Wikipedia, it appears there is no concise answer there ether http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_and_Light
Maybe he means people just need to be more "flavorful" and less "bland"? I always enjoy people with flavour ;)
We Canadians do love our bland food though...
Is it easier for our light to shine in dark times? Or do we let the darkness dim our light? I think perhaps our deeds shine brighter, but that's not why we do them right?
This is what we got from it: Unless you use what you have leatned from the bible and Jesus' example to share with others, the knowledge that you gain is not fruitful. God has given us this light to share with the world, not to hide it or keep it to ourselves. And unless we make the trip up the hill (working to build God's kingdon), we will never experience the thrill (blessings)of the ride down the other side on to the next kingdom challenge.
As salt we are a light to the world what happens is we start to add our rules and laws to the salt, then we are no longer good for anything. Our light is not to be hidden we are to share it with others (Gods blessings) so everyone can know the Father and praise him. That is why I said yesterday that truthfully it is not easy to share God's blessings with others when they are insulting you, persecuting you, and saying all kinds of evil against you. But that is exactly what we are to do so we don't become saltless.
Thanks everyone for sharing such great insights. The last verse left me pondering two important questions:
1. How do I live in a way that people will clearly see Christ's love shining through me?
2. How can I ensure that I am giving all the glory to God? Too often I want people to see my good works and think that there is something nice, or special, or likeable about me, when reality all glory should go to God whose grace is at work in me.
1. V. 13
When I read this scripture I think it could possibly be saying that you have to make sure you don’t lose touch with your salvation through Christ. Maybe it’s saying that it is only through Christ that we can be “salty” or the Salt of the earth.
2. V. 14-16
When I read this I think it is saying that as Christians we are shining the light and joy of salvation. If we are hiding that “light” from the world outside we are of no use to the kingdom of Heaven. This part of the scripture kind of reminds of the Joel Zanting’s talk the other week about how we have to get “dirty.” Be the light in the darkness (or dirt). I get the same sort of message from this; it’s just displayed in a different metaphor.
Luke - Thanks for doing some wiki study on salt & light. I love what Susan says about our good works pointing us to God. That's why we do them.
Krotz fam - Yes. I wholeheartedly agree that what we're given and have learned from God must be put into practice. Not only does the unimplemented knowledge/learning lead to unfruitfulness, it will rot and stink if left to itself.
Evelyn - The salt doesn't come out unless it's shaken from the shaker. I don't like to be shaken but that's where God shows his power.
Susan - I suspect we'll find the answer to 1. when we reach the end of our ropes (as Heather said in Monday's comments).
Bethany - Yes. Too often we hide in the dirt or we avoid it altogether. I like how you're seeing the need to shine in the dirt. In other words, we need to die in the dirt so that the life of Christ will germinate, take root, grow and produce fruit.
So, Gentile Rabbi - how did you do with memorizing Matt 5:13-16?
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