New every morning are Thy blessings, Dear God; pour out these and many others on this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I ask, amen.
Our text for today comes from Matthew 5:13 "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 14 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. 17 "Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures - either God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. 18 God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working. 19 "Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. 20 Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom. (The Message)
When was the last time your life brought out the "God-flavors" and "God-colors" of the world? Such is the meaning behind the continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus' intent is that we live lives that make a difference and help bring transformation to the world. If we live according to that which we have been taught as being pleasing to God, our lives will be those sorts of lives. The entire sermon shared that day by Our Lord can be summed up in saying, "Live the unexpected," for what Jesus shared with us is that we live according to what God expects, not the world. The world has its way, God has His. The world says, everybody for themselves, God says, care and love others. The world says, get angry and get even; God says, forgive and pray for those who are against you. People in Jesus' day for the most part had given up on God's Law. People in our day for the most part have given up on living as God would have us live, and dare I say that some have given up on God? I love the closing part of the passage that says, "But take it seriously, show the way for others." (v. 19)
PRAYER (Please pray this as your own prayer): Loving God, Iwant to live a life that brings out the God-flavors and shows the God-colors present in the world. Make my life so brilliant with Your love and compassion that others won't be able to resist Your grace and favor. May my life reflect the hope that You continue to share with us. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
