Matthew 5:13-20

 ***Week 2 Memory Verse***

If your right eye causes you to sin,

pluck it out and cast it from you;

for it is more profitable for you that

one of your members perish,

than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

And if your right hand causes you to sin,

cut it off and cast it from you;

for it is more profitable for you that

one of your members perish,

than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 

Matthew 5:29-30

 

 

READ MATTHEW 5:13-20!

 

 

To me these verses are about taking hold of your responsibilities.

People desire salt to turn a bland meal into a tastier one.  A follower of Jesus has a responsibility to be such an example to unbelievers so that their Christian lifestyle causes others around them to desire the flavor of life a Christian leads.

It is a disappointment to see a fellow Christian turn away from God and turn back to drugs, alcohol, lust, greed, etc.  It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, not a flavorful one.  Revelation 3:16 “So then because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

When I look at my children playing together, their eyes alive with light, I know it is my responsibility to keep that light alive within them.  Very few things in life are as sad as when you see a child who has had their “light” darkened by the world, by things such as abuse, anger, divorce, death, etc.  It is our responsibility to protect our children just as a flame must be protected from the elements around it which seek to put it out.  And it is our responsibility to reach out to children whose flames need to be rekindled.  2 Samuel 22:29 “You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.”

Keeping our lives flavorful and full of light is a responsibility which begins within the walls of our homes.  Daily reading or hearing of God’s Word can rekindle a child’s flame and add flavor to your life.  If you choose to only read or listen to the Word of God on Sunday, you are fighting a losing battle.  How will you defeat that temptation on Monday?  How will you protect the light inside your child if they receive blow after blow Monday-Saturday?

Jesus points out that he did not come to abolish the laws and writings of the prophets, but to fulfill them.  He states that the old laws (such as the 10 Commandments) should still be revered, followed, and taught.  That sounds about right, but then in verse 20 he gives us a warning, “Unless you obey God BETTER (emphasis added) than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, do, you can’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!”

Wow, sounds kind of impossible right?  Well, that’s because it is. I would bet that those words caused many disciples to have a look of confusion come across their faces, but it was all made clear to them eventually.

WE cannot do anything to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. No amount of time feeding the poor or sacrificing lambs is going to save our souls.  It is still our responsibility to be the salt and the light, leading others to Jesus, but then we must hand it over to the Boss.   

 

 

TIME OF REFLECTION:

One of the biggest hurdles we have to overcome to maintain our saltiness and to keep the light ablaze, is the feeling of needing to be part of this world. John 16:9 “The world’s sin is unbelief in me.”

Once we realize, we are God’s people in a land full of sin and evil, and we decide to step away from those worldly things that are holding us back from a fuller, freer, eternal, life, we can truly begin to do God’s work.  Our goal is not to draw attention to ourselves, but we are responsible for pointing out the goodness of God; everything we do, see, hear, or speak, should be something that glorifies Him.  Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Take time to reflect upon the areas of your life that have been pressing on your heart because you know these areas don’t glorify God.  Write them down on post-its if it helps you to stay away from them, like putting a post it on the T.V. reminding you to read your bible before you watch the news in the morning.

2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  JESSICA HONC  is the wife of 14 years to Will, and homeschooling mother of three children.  She is the Director of Freedom Fellowship Home School Co-op.  Jessica has served in many different capacities at Freedom Fellowship in Silsbee, Texas, such as librarian and children's teacher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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