Light of the World

Verses: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.(Matt 5:14-16)

 The world is full of darkness. Everywhere you look there are examples of evil that threaten our comfort and peace of mind. Christians are called to be bright spots in a dark world. We are not to be only interested in our own needs, but are to actively seek ways to bring comfort and the love of God to others. When there is a crisis ,Christians should be the first on the scene, not to offer preaching or pat answers, but a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear. Only when we are asked for answers should we with fear and trembling offer words of Christian insight.

  A comfy blanket, warm meal, and a helping hand speak volumes more than words ever will. And when others ask the reason for our generosity we should be quick to point out that we are ambassadors of Christ and living examples of His love for them. It is through our "love in action" that others will care about us and more importantly about the one who has sent us.

Prayer: Dear Lord- Thank you loving us. Help us to reflect your love for others through our actions. Help us to be quick to act, slow to speak, and  unstoppable in our determination to show your love. In Jesus name- Amen.

Salt of the Earth

Verse: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Matt 5:13)

 Have you ever wondered why Jesus called His followers "the salt of the earth"? Salt has more than one use. It is used by those who do not have refrigerators or freezers to keep their food from spoiling. Christians are the salt of the earth because they keep society from decaying at a faster rate. Without those that believe in biblical values our society would degrade at an alarming rate. It is true that over the course of decades our society has continued to drift away from biblical values and that even churches have been following suit (even if at a slower rate), but without followers of Christ that slide would be at a much more drastic pace. Just as the more salt you add to food the longer it will take to spoil, the more truly committed Christians there are in society, the longer it will take for society to decay.

 The "flavor" of a Christian is his or her impact on the world around them. If you are not in a seriously committed daily relationship with God, if you are not actively doing loving things for those that you are in contact with (not just family and friends), than you have lost your "flavor" and according to Jesus are only worthy to be thrown out. While this does not mean that God will give up on us it does mean that we are worthless to His Kingdom. But by the grace of God we do not have to remain that way. Unlike real salt, that when it loses it's flavor there is no way for it to get it back, we as Christians can always begin again. God can renew our "flavor". We have but to ask and obey.

Prayer: Dear Lord- Thank you for never giving up on me. Help me to be the "salt" in my family, workplace, Church, community, etc. Help me to do my part in keeping that which is in my sphere of influence from "spiritually spoiling". In Jesus name- Amen.

The Attributes of a Follower

Scripture: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.(Matt 5:3-12)

In the famous sermon on the mount, Jesus describes the attributes His followers are to have, starting with being "poor in spirit". Someone who is "poor in spirit" realizes that they are spiritually lacking. They realize that without God they have nothing. God is looking for His children to be completely dependent on him: to mourn their spiritual deficiencies and to intensely desire to possess more of God's attributes. He wants us to be humble (not boastful), merciful (full of compassion), and to be people who are seeking to make peace instead of instigating trouble. He warns His children that they will be persecuted and have false accusations attributed to them because of their devotion to Him. One needs only to look at how brutally spiritual values are attacked in the media to see that this is true. But Jesus points out that this has been the case for all of those that have had the courage to speak out for God.

Prayer: Dear Lord- Thank you for not giving up on me. Help me to care about what you care about. Help me to care about who you care about. Thank you for showing me mercy and help me always to be merciful to others. In Jesus name, Amen.