The Heading for our paragraph study today is: (The disciples compared to salt and light)
We have finished with the Beatitudes and continue with the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus gives us additional teachings. In this paragraph he starts by telling us that we are the salt of the earth. Salt is a basic element necessary for life. We find it in all living things on this planet. Yet Christ speaks to us as though we are the common element that is used by everyday people to give flavor to their foods. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt looses it strength, what will it be salted with?? There is something within those that he spoke to, and within us, that was and is basic for all christians, life. Out of all of the people that lived during the life of Christ only a small percentage heard this sermon. And Christ was speaking to them because there was something special about them. There was something special about them that brought them to see and to hear his sermon on that day. There was a desire in them that needed fulfillment. There was a hunger within them that required feeding. There was a hole in their lives that needed to be filled and in this sermon he gave them the basics of life.
Those people then and we who seek the Lord now, have a desire to know him. We have a hunger that needs to be fed with the words of life and Christ feeds us with his words. But if we loose this life, this salt, what good are we. If we loose this life, that is within us, what will we be salted with, what will our life be reignited with?? We become of no use except to be thrown out of the kingdom and to be trodden under foot. We become like the weeds that are gathered and put into the fire to be burned forever.
We are the light of the world, Christ continues in his sermon. He gives us examples of what it means to be the light. A city on a mountaintop cannot be hidden. A lamp placed on a lamp stand is there for a purpose, to give light for all who enter the house. Even so are we. We are given light so that we may shine in the darkness. We shine so that others may see and that we may give light to those who are near to us. We are placed above the floor, on a stand to give light to all. We are elevated so that the work that we do may be seen by all men and bring glory to God in heaven.
Let your light shine before men. Where is your light?? DO YOU KNOW that you have light?? Do you shine before men??
We have finished with the Beatitudes and continue with the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus gives us additional teachings. In this paragraph he starts by telling us that we are the salt of the earth. Salt is a basic element necessary for life. We find it in all living things on this planet. Yet Christ speaks to us as though we are the common element that is used by everyday people to give flavor to their foods. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt looses it strength, what will it be salted with?? There is something within those that he spoke to, and within us, that was and is basic for all christians, life. Out of all of the people that lived during the life of Christ only a small percentage heard this sermon. And Christ was speaking to them because there was something special about them. There was something special about them that brought them to see and to hear his sermon on that day. There was a desire in them that needed fulfillment. There was a hunger within them that required feeding. There was a hole in their lives that needed to be filled and in this sermon he gave them the basics of life.
Those people then and we who seek the Lord now, have a desire to know him. We have a hunger that needs to be fed with the words of life and Christ feeds us with his words. But if we loose this life, this salt, what good are we. If we loose this life, that is within us, what will we be salted with, what will our life be reignited with?? We become of no use except to be thrown out of the kingdom and to be trodden under foot. We become like the weeds that are gathered and put into the fire to be burned forever.
We are the light of the world, Christ continues in his sermon. He gives us examples of what it means to be the light. A city on a mountaintop cannot be hidden. A lamp placed on a lamp stand is there for a purpose, to give light for all who enter the house. Even so are we. We are given light so that we may shine in the darkness. We shine so that others may see and that we may give light to those who are near to us. We are placed above the floor, on a stand to give light to all. We are elevated so that the work that we do may be seen by all men and bring glory to God in heaven.
Let your light shine before men. Where is your light?? DO YOU KNOW that you have light?? Do you shine before men??
