In Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus describes his disciples as salt and light.
Salt provides flavour to food; it was used as a preservative in the days before fridges; it can be used to clean wounds; it melts ice to keep pavements safe. Therefore disciples are those who add flavour to society making it 'taste' better. They stop the rot. They bring healing. They will stop you slipping over if you walk on them in the snow.
It is possible that Jesus had the first three of these images in mind in Matthew 5 - it is unlikely that the final image occurred to any of his listeners, but I might be wrong.
Light allows us to see, so that when we walk we don't bump into things or fall over. It allows us to find things that may otherwise be hidden. It is attractive - when you are lost in the mountains you will walk towards a light. So disciples are those who show the way and are attractive to others.
We can't know for sure whether Jesus had one or more of these images in his mind as he spoke about salt and light. But taken as a whole these are positive images. A disciple should have a positive impact on the society in which she or he lives. A disciple will make a difference.
What difference will we make today?
Monday, 18 January 2010
Friday, 15 January 2010
Do you want peace or persecution? Can you have both?
'Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God' (Matthew 5:9). When we read about peace in the Bible much more is meant than simply the absence of conflict. There can only be peace with wholeness and completeness. When these things are absent there won't be a real peace. Things may sometimes seem ok at times but there is turmoil bubbling away just below the surface.
Over Christmas you may have read/heard the passage from Isaiah 9:6 which gives Jesus the name 'prince of peace' among others. This morning I was reading in Matthew 10:34 in which Jesus says, 'I did not come to bring peace but a sword...' So does Jesus bring peace or not?
Only true peace can be found in Jesus because it is only through Jesus that we can know wholeness. It comes through acknowledging that Jesus is Lord - now I will live his way and not my own. I will put God's priorities first, not my own. But living that kind of life will put us into conflict with those who don't acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. Not that we go out looking for trouble - as far as it is down to us we should seek to live peacefully with all (Hebrews 12:14). But putting Jesus first will mean that inevitably other people/things will have to be at best second, if not third, fourth or fifth priorities.
Living as a disciple of Jesus will bring persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). But whilst we should not go looking for persecution, we should certainly not run from it at all costs, for 'Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven' (verse 10). Even though the life of a disciple is one that makes a positive impact (salt and light) there will be those who will not like what they see. Whether through envy, jealousy, or some other reason they will want to bring the disciple down.
Peace or persecution? On the surface the two may seem mutually exclusive - but the disciple of Jesus can know both at the same time. Experiencing the hardship that comes from persecution and yet knowing the peace of God that is beyond all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).
Over Christmas you may have read/heard the passage from Isaiah 9:6 which gives Jesus the name 'prince of peace' among others. This morning I was reading in Matthew 10:34 in which Jesus says, 'I did not come to bring peace but a sword...' So does Jesus bring peace or not?
Only true peace can be found in Jesus because it is only through Jesus that we can know wholeness. It comes through acknowledging that Jesus is Lord - now I will live his way and not my own. I will put God's priorities first, not my own. But living that kind of life will put us into conflict with those who don't acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. Not that we go out looking for trouble - as far as it is down to us we should seek to live peacefully with all (Hebrews 12:14). But putting Jesus first will mean that inevitably other people/things will have to be at best second, if not third, fourth or fifth priorities.
Living as a disciple of Jesus will bring persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). But whilst we should not go looking for persecution, we should certainly not run from it at all costs, for 'Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven' (verse 10). Even though the life of a disciple is one that makes a positive impact (salt and light) there will be those who will not like what they see. Whether through envy, jealousy, or some other reason they will want to bring the disciple down.
Peace or persecution? On the surface the two may seem mutually exclusive - but the disciple of Jesus can know both at the same time. Experiencing the hardship that comes from persecution and yet knowing the peace of God that is beyond all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).
Thursday, 14 January 2010
More Snow
However inconvenient - fresh snow does make for a beautiful landscape. But if you've been out and about in the UK this last week or so you will know that it doesn't take long for the whiteness to become a dirty grey and then black alongside roads etc. And once it starts to melt it goes to that grey slushy stage.
In our week long reflection on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) we reach 'blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God' (verse 8). The image of being washed whiter than snow is found in Psalm 51:7, a Psalm that David wrote on being confronted after committing murder and adultery. But if you're anything like me it doesn't take long before the whiteness starts to turn a little grey, and then a little bit more...
Psalm 24:3-4 tells us that it is those with clean hands and a pure heart who may ascend the mountain of the Lord. Psalm 119:9 tells us that it is as we live by God's word that we keep our way pure. But a clean heart is only possible through the work of God - when we ask Him (Psalm 51:10). And we need to keep on asking, coming back again and again for forgiveness. When we live this close to God Jesus says we will see him.
In our week long reflection on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) we reach 'blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God' (verse 8). The image of being washed whiter than snow is found in Psalm 51:7, a Psalm that David wrote on being confronted after committing murder and adultery. But if you're anything like me it doesn't take long before the whiteness starts to turn a little grey, and then a little bit more...
Psalm 24:3-4 tells us that it is those with clean hands and a pure heart who may ascend the mountain of the Lord. Psalm 119:9 tells us that it is as we live by God's word that we keep our way pure. But a clean heart is only possible through the work of God - when we ask Him (Psalm 51:10). And we need to keep on asking, coming back again and again for forgiveness. When we live this close to God Jesus says we will see him.
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Righteousness and Mercy
Next in our list Jesus teaches that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. Clearly, when taken within the context of the whole gospel, or even within the context of this chapter (Matthew 5), Jesus is not talking about the self-righteousness of the religious establishment. This is not an invitation to try to live out the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount and then wear them as some kind of self-righteous badge of achievement.
Jesus is talking here about people who passionately desire righteousness - in the same way that you are passionate about eating and drinking when you are hungry and thirsty. This will include a desire to see justice done in the world - that individuals, corporations and nations do the right thing, not just the quickest, easiest or cheapest thing.
It will also involve a personal element - the desire for personal ethical righteousness and a separation from sin. This is something that can't be achieved in our own strength. We need God's help through the Holy Spirit working in our lives. We need God's forgiveness for sin and His empowerment to live the kind of life the Jesus is outlining for us here.
The righteousness that Jesus talks of is only possible after God has dealt with my failings. Rather than treat me as my sin deserves I can know forgiveness through Jesus' death - this is the mercy of God - not giving me what I deserve. And having experienced the mercy of God, Jesus commands his disciples to show that kind of mercy to others - blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7)...or does he?
Jesus' teaching here on mercy and elsewhere on forgiveness (e.g. Matthew 6:14-15) is not that because we have experienced mercy/forgiveness we should be merciful/forgiving (although that is true). Rather it is the other way around - if you show mercy/forgiveness then you will experience mercy/forgiveness.
A true disciple will be merciful - that is they will treat people in a way that they don't necessarily deserve. They won't look for revenge. They won't exclude people because of some offence. They won't pay back evil for evil. Instead they will assume the best and not the worst. They will give the benefit of the doubt. They will continue to show love and kindness even when those actions have been stamped on and abused in the past. They won't just give a second chance or even a third chance - instead they won't be counting or keeping a record of wrongs.
Jesus is talking here about people who passionately desire righteousness - in the same way that you are passionate about eating and drinking when you are hungry and thirsty. This will include a desire to see justice done in the world - that individuals, corporations and nations do the right thing, not just the quickest, easiest or cheapest thing.
It will also involve a personal element - the desire for personal ethical righteousness and a separation from sin. This is something that can't be achieved in our own strength. We need God's help through the Holy Spirit working in our lives. We need God's forgiveness for sin and His empowerment to live the kind of life the Jesus is outlining for us here.
The righteousness that Jesus talks of is only possible after God has dealt with my failings. Rather than treat me as my sin deserves I can know forgiveness through Jesus' death - this is the mercy of God - not giving me what I deserve. And having experienced the mercy of God, Jesus commands his disciples to show that kind of mercy to others - blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7)...or does he?
Jesus' teaching here on mercy and elsewhere on forgiveness (e.g. Matthew 6:14-15) is not that because we have experienced mercy/forgiveness we should be merciful/forgiving (although that is true). Rather it is the other way around - if you show mercy/forgiveness then you will experience mercy/forgiveness.
A true disciple will be merciful - that is they will treat people in a way that they don't necessarily deserve. They won't look for revenge. They won't exclude people because of some offence. They won't pay back evil for evil. Instead they will assume the best and not the worst. They will give the benefit of the doubt. They will continue to show love and kindness even when those actions have been stamped on and abused in the past. They won't just give a second chance or even a third chance - instead they won't be counting or keeping a record of wrongs.
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