In our next few studies through the Sermon on the Mount, we are going to slow the journey down and spend some time in the prayer that has become known as The Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus introduced it like this:

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. (In other words, no reward from God – just from people)⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matt 6:5-8)

You may remember, from our last devotion in verses 1 – 4 that Jesus said something similar about giving to the needy. Do it in the Secret Place where only your Father in heaven sees. Don’t give or pray to try to win the approval of others. “An audience of one” is all that is important – the Lord himself. And his rewards last for all eternity.

Jesus then said, ““This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed (holy) be your name…’” (Matt 6:9)

The Bible has much to say about God being our loving Father, His presence in Heaven and His holiness. Consider these verses for example:

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)

¹³ From heaven the LORD looks down

and sees all mankind;

¹⁴ from his dwelling place he watches

all who live on earth—

¹⁵ he who forms the hearts of all,

who considers everything they do. (Ps 33:13-15)

​¹ In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ³ And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Is 6:1-3)

Our Father in Heaven, sits on His throne, exalted above all things and sees the heart of every human being. But He also loves us deeply, constantly inviting us into his presence through prayer and through faith in His son, Jesus.

Jesus taught us to respond to that invitation by speaking simple words, beginning with, ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed (holy) be your name…’. He knows the Father hears it, and He knows the Father sees us. And he knows the Father loves to call us His children. 

Continuing our studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

¹ “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt 6:1-4)

I wonder if you have heard the phrase, “an audience of one”. It speaks of doing something quietly, knowing only one person can see – the Lord himself. No-one else knows about it. It is a secret between you and God.

When we are in a relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ, when we are secure in His love and our hearts are open before Him, we don’t need to seek approval from those around us. We can be content in the knowledge that God sees and that’s enough.

In two separate psalms, David talks about the Secret Place. In both cases, he is referring to being in his mother’s womb. For example, in Psalm 139 he prays,

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; (Psalms 139:15-16)

The Lord’s eyes saw him. Can there be anything more wonderful? We started out our life in the Secret Place, where only God saw us. The psalm also describes how Lord carefully formed us and made detailed plans for our lives. Many years after David wrote the psalm, Jesus called us to continue in intimate relationship with the Father, spiritually dwelling in the Secret Place, seeking only His approval for the decisions that we make.

The word, “reward” is used three times in this passage. Some of us might have been taught that we shouldn’t do things to seek rewards, but the fact is, the Father loves to reward us. We don’t earn His rewards (He doesn’t owe us), but He does love to bless us when we do the right thing.

Those who give to the needy with an attitude of showing off, or trying to win the approval of human beings, “have received their reward in full”. The honour given by people may feel good at the time, but it won’t last forever. Describing a sports hero or an actor we sometimes hear the phrase, “you are only as good as your last performance”. Human praise is fleeting. But the Lord’s rewards are for eternity.

The Secret Place is a place in fellowship with God through faith in Jesus Christ where we are loved and where life has meaning and purpose. And the rewards found there last forever. 

Continuing our studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt 5:43-48)

I wonder if you have ever had an enemy. Somebody who opposes you, tries to hurt you, someone who takes delight in discouraging you; maybe they have even bullied you in some way.

Here, Jesus instructs us to love them and one way, he says, to do that is to pray for them. We may not feel we have love for an enemy, but we can choose to do love - by praying for them. That might seem difficult to do but sometimes praying for a person can have surprising results. Here’s how it works. Praying for a person we struggle with can potentially achieve two things:

First, it can soften our heart towards forgiveness and away from retribution. It can help us to see the person as broken and needing Jesus. The person who has not shown love or respect to us is still loved by the Lord. He died for them too. If we can make a decision to pray for the person instead of nursing our wounds, or entertaining ways of getting even, the Lord uses such prayers to change our hearts to be more like Him. Praying for an enemy invites the Lord to have His way in us.

Second, it may be your prayer or my prayer that God chooses to bless and bring that person to repentance and faith in Him. If your enemy is going to change, it is more likely to occur on the back of compassionate prayer than from anger

Think of people in your life now or people you have known in the past. Those who have hurt you. People who have made your life difficult. Pray that they come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Or, if they are believers, pray that they come to a deeper understanding of the Lord and His ways.

If you can, pray these words over them from Numbers 6 v 24 – 26.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Continuing our studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matt 5:38-42)

Have you ever wanted Payback?

There are literally hundreds of movies about revenge. In fact, IMDB (the go-to website for information on any movie) has even created a list of the “50 best Revenge movies of all time” – including several that many would call classics.

People love to hear stories about someone getting what they deserve. But is this what things look like in Jesus’ new world – the Kingdom of God?

Imagine a Roman soldier in Jesus’ day forcing an elderly gentleman or a young mother to carry his heavy bag for a mile. Or imagine today an unfair boss expecting an employee to work extra hours for no extra pay, doing an unpleasant job that the manager was too lazy to finish himself.

I am sure we can all think of many other unfair scenarios. Perhaps you have experienced some yourself.

Even worse, now think about the Roman soldier striking an innocent person on the cheek in Jesus’ day. Or a business owner suing a person living in poverty for the only garments they have for the cold winter nights.

At first glance these words seem like Jesus is saying, “just be weak; just be a victim; don’t stand up for yourself; let people walk all over you!”

Is Jesus encouraging a victim mentality? Is he promoting injustice?

The answer is no; he isn’t! There are times when we do need to defend ourselves, speak up when something is wrong or stand up for others, but there is a difference between defending yourself, and exacting revenge. If we have the power to protect somebody in danger, we must do so. If we can diffuse a bad situation peacefully (even if it means refusing to hit back, or blessing somebody with more than they deserve), it is surely better than letting anger and retribution rule the day.

Jesus’ words here are about overcoming evil with good, responding to hatred and anger with mercy and grace.

I don’t know about you, but I would rather be in a world like that - a world of mercy, grace, kindness - than one where revenge is unrestrained. 

Continuing our studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matt 5:33-37)

Would you say that you are a truthful person? Would you say you are an honest person? Most of us would agree that lies often have the potential to be destructive or hurtful and can easily break trust. In today’s passage, Jesus is encouraging honesty. To lie for our own gain or to hurt another is clearly wrong. A person of integrity will be truthful.

“I swear on my mother’s grave!”, we have all heard people say. Or “On the life of my children, what I am telling you is true”.

In Jesus’ day, people would swear oaths in a similar way to emphasize that what they are saying is true. So, they might use the name of God.

But, some leaders, lacking integrity, might swear an oath in the name of something less than God, like Heaven or the city of Jerusalem, or something created by God, if they planned on not quite speaking the truth.

It might have sounded good and even convincing (for example, “I swear it’s true on the name of our beautiful city Jerusalem”, or “this is as true as the hairs on my head”), but they may not be telling the whole truth.  

So, what is Jesus teaching here? Jesus is teaching that “swearing” is not necessary if people know that you are a truthful person. A simple statement or answer to a question, like yes or no is enough.

What about so called “white” lies – withholding truth because you don’t want to hurt somebody? Do we say yes or no, tell it as it is, regardless of the effect the truth might have on a person. A good rule of thumb is to say that truth must always be balanced with genuine love. Paul encouraged us to speak the truth in love in Ephesians 4 v 15. If a truth will hurt another, perhaps we need to ask first if God’s wisdom counsels us to stay quiet; or maybe we can find a way of sharing the truth in a way that is kind.  

As we said last time, Jesus was not afraid to tackle the tough subjects of the day in His Sermon on the Mount. After a confronting few minutes, during which he challenged his hearers to flee the perils of sexual temptation, the awkwardness for some is not yet over. Next Jesus goes full throttle against divorce.

Let’s start here, though, with the reminder that we live in an imperfect world and that God is a God of forgiveness, love, and grace. He mends broken hearts and helps us in our pain, giving wisdom in difficult decisions. Having said that, for the purposes of this devotion, the Scriptures are clear that the Lord created marriage, in Genesis chapter 2 v 22 – 24, and that He hates divorce (Mal 2: 16 NASB).

In the next part of His sermon, Jesus said, ³¹ “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³² But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Matthew 5:31-32

In Jesus’ day there were two schools of thought about divorce. Rabbi Shammai taught that divorce can only be permitted for very serious offenses. Rabbi Hillel taught that a man can divorce his wife for any reason, however ridiculous. If she burnt a meal – she’s out! If the husband prefers the looks of another woman, he can divorce his wife and marry the other!

Jesus was probably referring to the second school of thought here in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice that He is talking to men, and He emphasises how the wife becomes the victim. This is important. Jesus is challenging every man to think about what is best for his wife. To not just think about himself.

Whenever there is a relationship breakdown, whether it is just a petty argument or something as serious as seeking a divorce, the hardest thing to do is to start thinking about what is best for the other person. Perhaps there would be fewer divorces in the world if people gave the highest priority to what is best for the person they have married.

Staying with the focus on men, Paul taught that husbands must love their wives as Christ has loved the church in Ephesian 5: 25. There is no condition here. It is not ‘love their wives’, if the wives do their part. It is ‘love their wives as Christ loved the church’. Full Stop!

I once heard somebody say that marriage is not 50-50; it is 100-100. In other words, we give to our partner without conditions attached. In Jesus’s comments about divorce in the Sermon on the Mount it is easy to focus on the parts that talk about adultery and whether there are circumstances that permit divorce. I have a feeling Jesus also wants us to try looking away from self for a moment and consider what is best for the one I married. 

Jesus was not afraid to tackle the tough subjects in His Sermon on the Mount. After challenging his listeners to consider the use of their words, particularly when words might hurt or offend others, he moves to their thoughts, specifically in the area of sexual attraction.

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Matthew 5:27-30

Sexual attraction towards another is one of the most powerful forces that God has created for good (inside marriage), but it is also the most manipulated by our enemy, the devil, for evil.

Everybody knows that committing adultery is morally wrong and destructive, but Jesus takes the Old Testament command a step further. He tells us that even if we look at another person (which includes pornography) and allow our imagination to desire adultery, that is no different. It is still morally wrong and destructive.

Jesus died on the cross to take the penalty for our sins, providing a way that we might receive forgiveness and freedom. Then He gives us His Spirit to empower us towards living a new and clean life. But the emphasis here in the sermon is on how serious adultery is, even if it is imagined adultery. It is not something to gloss over or take lightly.

Jesus’ comments about cutting off parts of the body are obviously not to be taken literally (otherwise there would be a lot of people walking around with missing hands and eyes). Rather, He wants to underline how important it is that we take steps towards guarding our minds, not submitting to temptation.

Paul wrote to Timothy, “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). Sometimes it is as simple as that – flee the temptation! Delete the webpage; switch to another channel; walk away from person who might lead you astray.

I wonder, in which way does the devil tempt you in this area? Is God challenging you about what you watch on TV, or what you browse on your computer? Do you need to take control of any stray thoughts you might have about a person other than your husband or wife? What do you need to do to keep temptation away?

Continuing our journey through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, last week we read:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matthew 5:21-22

We asked the question that as followers of Jesus, how might we encourage an alternative narrative where our words heal and restore rather than hurt and divide? One answer is to ensure that we speak with grace towards each other, being careful what we say.

Jesus offers some more answers in the next part of his sermon. He continued, saying:

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” Matthew 5:23-26

The reality of life is that sometimes we do hurt and offend others. We may not always mean to, but when we are angry or stressed, we might say things we later regret. We might make a decision we didn’t realise would cause trouble for others. We can try to avoid hurting others by being careful with our words, but if an offense has been caused, what can we do to put it right?

Verses 23 – 24 of Matthew 5 reminds us that our relationships with each other are important to God. So much so, Jesus says that we should seek to put them right even before worshipping God or participating in church activities (“offering your gift at the alter” in verse 23). It seems the Lord wants us to make it a top priority to be reconciled with those we might have hurt or offended. Above anything else. We need to go to the person and try to mend the relationship.

In verses 25 – 26, the situation described is even worse. Imagine wronging a person so badly that they decide to take you to court. Jesus obviously doesn’t want things to get that far. Again, he encourages us to go to the person and talk to them. Try to find a peaceful solution.

Hurts are easily caused by words, but restored relationships can be found through words too. Words have power and God has given us the authority and freedom to wield that power. Let’s resist the urge to divide but lean towards the precious art of reconciliation.

Continuing our journey through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matthew 5:21-22

I’m sure we would all agree that, in most cases, to kill a human life is wrong. Jesus reminded us of that in these verses, referring to the 10 commandments in Exodus 20. After quoting the sixth commandment (“You shall not murder”), He then listed 3 examples where emotions and speech will also be held accountable: anger with a brother or sister, an insult to a brother or sister, and an offensive remark to someone.

God is not just interested in our outward actions but how we treat each other with our words and what lies within our hearts.

Sometimes anger is justified (for example, when we see somebody being bullied, or when we hear of regions of the world that suffer without food or clean water), but “anyone who is angry” refers to unrighteous anger in this case, the sort that comes out of hatred or self-importance.[1] This is the sort of anger that festers in the pool of hurt pride, the kind that is expressed unchecked when we forget to have mercy or compassion.

To say “Raca” to a brother or sister is the same as insulting somebody’s intelligence. It is the same as calling a person a moron or stupid, with deliberate intention to belittle them. Even if we do this in jest a humble person will check his motives and be sure that the person on the receiving end truly receives it in good humour.

In Jesus’ third example, to say “you fool” goes deeper than “Raca”. It assaults a person’s character, like accusing someone of being corrupt. In a world where verbal barbs are traded without restraint on social media or in the public arena, how might we as children of a new Kingdom demonstrate a different reality? How might we as followers of Jesus encourage an alternative narrative where our words heal and restore rather than hurt and divide?

The verses that follow will begin to address that, we will examine these in next week’s devotion. In the meantime, The Bible has much to say in other places about how God wants us to treat people, especially when emotions are running high. Here’s just one example from the Apostle Paul: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6

[1] See 1 John 3: 15

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 5: 17 - 20

When was the last time you read any of the ‘law’ books in the Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers or Deuteronomy? Some of it can be hard going, but all of it is God’s Word. Not all the commands are practised by Christians today (for example, child circumcision, animal sacrifice), but every instruction tells us something about God and the world we live in.

Jesus said he came to fulfill the law. What does that mean?

Some have suggested that the whole of the Old Testament (including the law books), can be summarised by Deuteronomy 6: 4 – 5: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”[1] Jesus agreed with this and then added, “Love your neighbour as yourself” in Mark 12:29 - 31. In fact, it can be argued that much of Jesus’ teaching was rooted in quotes or principles found in the Old Testament. We see this in the next section of the Sermon on the Mount. For example, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)

Jesus fulfilled the law by teaching a deeper understanding of it.

Another way Jesus fulfilled the law was by pointing us to the Father, so that we may obey Him and love Him. We know the law was given to reveal God’s holiness, to set Israel apart from the other nations, define and expose sin, introduce justice and point us to Christ. But it was also given to reveal the heart of God.

Every commandment and every principle said something about God’s love, generosity and kindness. And they revealed a holy God who will judge. So for those who never saw past a list of do’s and don’ts, Jesus embodied The Lord’s love and holiness. He fulfilled the law by living it for all to see. No wonder he said that those who practice the commands (those who follow His example) will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Not in a self-righteous way like the Pharisees but like Jesus – motivated by a desire to please His Father in Heaven.

[1] E.g. Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby p 82

In Matthew 5: 14 – 16, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Jesus was delivering a message that we call the Sermon on the Mount. He had just told his listeners that they are the “salt of the earth”. Those whose lives will preserve the faith and add the flavour of God to a lost world. Now he is calling them light.

On a different occasion Jesus said “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (John 8: 12). He said this after refusing to condemn a woman caught in adultery. Instead, Jesus chose to highlight the hypocrisy of her accusers. It is a dark world where condemnation and self-righteousness rule, but Jesus is a different kind of leader. His ministry is one of light. In His kingdom, there is life, hope, love and forgiveness.

It was some time before this incident that Jesus sat on a mountain and preached the Sermon on the Mount, teaching new followers that they will be the light of the world. Their lives will reveal a kingdom different to the world around them. A kingdom of life, hope, love and forgiveness.

And He speaks that message to us today. We are the light of the world. Our destiny is to shine a light of life, hope, love and forgiveness in the darkness around us.

We can do this by the things that we do.

Being salty is who we are (Who we are in Jesus); being light is what we do

What do we do? We let the light shine. We do not cover it up. We don’t hide it. We hold it up. We let it illuminate the house.

A light bulb doesn’t create its own light, it is hooked up to a source of power and it shines. Unapologetically. The good it does is seen by others, not to bring glory to itself but to fulfill the purpose for which it was made.

So, we too are called to shine. Unapologetically. To be “in Christ”, full of the Holy Spirit, and so hooked up to the source of power. To do good deeds that glorify our Father in Heaven

What sort of good deeds? What did Jesus mean? Many things have been suggested by followers of Jesus over the years, but let’s start with declaring truth. Light is a word often used in the Bible to describe the revelation of God’s Word. We declare truth. Truth is then accompanied by love – love, with its multifaceted faces of God’s attributes: patience, kindness, generosity, mercy, forgiveness and so much more.

As these attributes inspire good deeds, they reveal our Father in Heaven. “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

This year the focus in our 4-min devotions is on the teaching given by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5 – 7.

After the short “Blessed are…” phrases at the beginning of the sermon, often called the Beatitudes, Jesus said:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13)

In the Old Testament, Job asked the question. “Can flavourless food be eaten without salt?”[1]. The answer, of course, is yes, but it would taste a lot better with salt and other seasonings. In New Testament days, salt was a preservative (keeping meat fresh before the days of coolers or fridges) and a condiment, adding to the flavour of a meal.

As many commentators note, Christians have the call and authority to bring God’s life to those around them and we have the power to bring positive change to our communities. To be a preservative of the faith and to add the flavour of God to a lost world. Writer, Ken Mongomery says that we, as the salt of the earth, “participate in the flavour of the redemptive kingdom of heaven”[2].

In other words, by being salt in this world we give people a taste of Heaven. By sharing God’s love and truth to those in our schools and streets, workplaces, and neighbourhoods, we crack open the door for the lost to glimpse a view of the eternal Father who is offering His love to them. Our saltiness has the ability to reveal a new world accessible to all: God’s powerful story of love, sacrifice and redemption.

Perhaps a good question to ask today is: “what do I need to do to be salt (that is, the life and flavour of God) to people in my street, my study group, my family, my workplace, my community?”

Jesus warned of salt losing its saltiness. Salt mixed with other substances might become diluted. Thrown on an icy road, it will be less effective or less noticeable in a bowl of soup.

Our lives, once purified by the saving power of faith in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross, may become less effective on the world around us if mixed with the values we were once rescued from. A lack of purity makes us bland and tasteless.

No wonder it would be “thrown out and trampled underfoot”. The last thing the world needs is Christians who claim to be followers of Jesus (that is, salt – preservers of the faith, spreading the life, truth and love of God), but who mix their lives with compromise. They would rightly be rejected – thrown out – by those searching for truth. Those looking for faith are looking for something that is real and pure. Faith that is salty.  

[1] Job 6: 6 NJKV

[2] From Themelios Theological Journal, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/about/

“Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23

God loves a pure heart. When King David was chosen (way back in the Old Testament) to be King of Israel it was because God saw his heart. We read, “the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart” (1 Sam 13:14). Even after some terrible mistakes, years later, his prayer to the Lord was still “Create in me a pure heart, O God,” (Ps 51:10). God saw a pure heart at the beginning of his call and David was still depending on God for purity of heart years later.

In Jesus’ day, what’s important to God has not changed: The next beatitude in our Sermon on the Mount series is, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matt 5:8).

Let’s think what it might mean to guard your heart, as we read in Proverbs 4: 23.

Our hearts, in terms of who we are, (that is, our emotions, thoughts, feelings, innermost secrets, desires, who we are deep down) are precious. They are made by God, but they are tainted by sin. Having said that, they are also being transformed by faith in Christ and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

But that makes them vulnerable. Look at these verses in the book of Proverbs:

·      ^“Anxiety weighs down the heart,

but a kind word cheers it up” (Prov 12: 25).

·      “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” (Prov 13: 12).

·      ^“Even in laughter the heart may ache,

and rejoicing may end in grief” (Prov 14: 13)

Anxiety. Hopes deferred. Heartache. Grief.

When anxiety gets in, it’s like a heaviness, weighing down, poisoning our joy, stealing our peace. When hopes are dashed or delayed, it can feel like the energy drain of a fever.  And what can be worse than being in a room with others who are enjoying life, but have no idea of the pain you are in?

When the stuff of life happens, if we are not careful, we give permission to harmful emotions to enter and take up residence in our hearts – anxiety, disappointment, discouragement, anger, pain… and so on.

The author of Proverbs pleads with us to guard our hearts. The old NIV says, “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life”. I am to guard my heart because it is the wellspring of life. That is, a source of new living water. A source of God’s life. A pure heart, one guarded against negative emotions and sin, can be a source of God’s love and life to those around us.

Jesus promised that those with pure hearts are blessed because they will see God. Perhaps a clean and protected heart will see God moving in ways far beyond our natural abilities to do good. The pure in heart will see God in ways we cannot even imagine. 

Psalm 42: 1 – 5, says this:

¹ As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, my God.

² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

³ My tears have been my food

day and night,

while people say to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

⁴ These things I remember

as I pour out my soul:

how I used to go to the house of God

under the protection of the Mighty One

with shouts of joy and praise

among the festive throng.

⁵ Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God (Psalms 42:1-5)

When you look at the world, what do you see? When you watch TV or catch a video on your phone; when you scroll through Facebook or Instagram, what kind of things stand out for you?

For some, it might be a hope that others have ‘liked’ something you posted yesterday. For others, the latest trivia might grab your attention. Or a cute photograph. Perhaps a feel-good story.

For those who are compelled to stay in touch with national and international events, it is rarely good news that makes the headlines. Another conflict in another country. Another scandal.  

I wonder, do you ever try to look with spiritual eyes? Do you ask yourself “I wonder how God sees all this”? And therefore, “How may I view the world with His heart – with a heart of righteousness”?

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matt 5: 6). In other words, blessed are those who want to see things from God’s perspective, Blessed are those who want righteousness to reign.

The writer of Psalm 42 has been living in troubled times, and he remembers better days (v 4). He knows God is the only one who can change things. Like a deer desperate for water on a hot, dry day, the psalmist is thirsty for God’s presence. For God and His righteousness to come.

How might we reflect that desperation today? Perhaps it starts in our prayer life. Pray for salvations to occur; pray for God’s love, help and peace to reach those who need Him. Pray for God intervene in events we see on the news. Pray for God to reign in your workplace, in your street, in your town, in your city, in all the dark places.

Those who hunger and thirst will be filled. What will they be filled with? Some suggest a deeper relationship with God and a transformed heart. But perhaps they will also experience the satisfaction of seeing God turning things around in ways we can’t even imagine.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

This year the focus in our 4-min devotions is the teaching given by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5 – 7.

We are looking at the short “Blessed are…” phrases at the beginning of the sermon, often called the Beatitudes or “beautiful attitudes” as somebody once said.

The word “blessed” can also mean happy, but specifically the person is happy because they have received God’s favour.

The third beatitude is:

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

I wonder if Jesus was thinking of Psalm 37 when he said this. David, who wrote the psalm, encouraged his hearers to resist any impulse they might have to envy those who gain by doing wrong. On the contrary they are to trust in the Lord for all things, to do good, to be patient, to refrain from anger or frustration. He says:

A little while, and the wicked will be no more;

though you look for them, they will not be found.

But the meek will inherit the land

and enjoy peace and prosperity (Psalms 37:10-11).

A person who is meek will have a calm temper, not easily provoked. He or she will be patient and humble. They will want to do good. Matthew Henry said: “Meekness is calm confidence, settled assurance, and rest of the soul. It is the tranquil stillness of a soul that is at rest in Christ. It is the place of peace. Meekness springs from a heart of humility, radiating the fragrance of Christ.”

The Lord wants every one of His children to experience a heart at rest. He wants us to know the peace of trusting in Him.

What might it mean that the meek inherit the earth, or the land, as David stated in his psalm? What is the earth or land in these metaphors?

Some have suggested that inheriting the earth means to find peace with God or peace in human relationships. Or both. The inheritance may refer to other forms of spiritual blessing, either in our present life or in the future. For example, it might manifest as the favour of God upon yours or my life today in terms of answered prayer, or rewards in the new earth after Jesus returns.

Perhaps the important point though is that the new world – the new Kingdom – inaugurated by Jesus, is not one where the strongest or loudest win. The bully and the one driven by pride has no place in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Lord lifts the humble.

Jesus modelled meekness for us. He washed his disciples’ feet instead of expecting the service from a household slave. Despite being falsely accused, Jesus responded without any anger or threat. And he submitted himself to His Father’s will to suffer and die for our sins.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. The one who resists the temptation to place ego on the throne, finds his feet on holy ground, blessed by God and placed there by Him. 

This year the focus in our 4-min devotions will be the teachings of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5 – 7.

Last time, we examined the opening lines of the sermon:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

We said that those who are poor in spirit know their need of God. They are desperate enough to seek his face. In every part of their lives, they are dependent on God’s love, His mercy, His strength and His guidance. The poor in spirit are not ashamed to recognise their weaknesses and look to God for help.

And Jesus describes such a person as blessed because they will know and experience God’s Kingdom.

Next Jesus said this:

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4).

Like the first phrase describing those that are poor in spirit, the next phrase referring to the act of mourning is not one usually associated with a season of blessing. How can death be a good thing? What is Jesus saying?

In Psalm 51, the author David is very aware of his own sinful actions. He has done wrong, and he is sorry.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

⁹ Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (Psalms 51:7-12)

David knows his sins are before God (v 9), and only God can wash them away (v 7). As he examines his heart, he faces the uncomfortable truth that he is not the person he wants to be. He realises only God can change his heart (v 10). He not only admits the things he has done wrong, but he also feels sorrow for those things. John Stott says, “It is one thing to be spiritually poor and acknowledge it, it is another to grieve and mourn over it. Or, in more theological language, confession is one thing, contrition is another”.[1]

In Matthew 5: 4, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” In other words, God’s favour is on those who are sorry for their sins, who mourn for them, who want to do better when they mess up. Christ died on the cross so that our sins may be forgiven and that we may receive His comfort – his help to change.

The Apostle John wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Blessed are those who are truly sorry for their failings before God. The Lord delights in forgiving, comforting and helping us to do better.

[1]From The Sermon on the Mount by John Stott p 41

Today we begin a new season of devotions based on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:1−3 tells us that “when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. The first thing He said was:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What a strange way to start a message. Blessed are the poor in spirit. How can poverty be a good condition for anybody? It doesn’t feel like something to aspire to. But Jesus is at the beginning of something important. This sermon, found in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 is about to shock some, pack many surprise punches, and introduce his hearers to a very new kind of world. He is going to shatter the ideas people have about faith and religion and show them what God is really like.

And he kicks off with this: to have any hope of entering into God’s Kingdom − the Kingdom of Heaven, you have to be poor in spirit. You have to know you need God.

This is not a new idea. Back to the Old Testament we heard the call to:

Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Look to the LORD and his strength;

seek his face always. (1 Chronicles 16:8-11, italics mine)

This is Asaph, the chief of musicians leading the singing of praise to God, after King David had defeated the Philistines, and the ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem amid great celebration. Asaph exhorted everyone present to seek God’s face. Always.

What might it mean to seek God’s face?

At another moment in David’s life, he prayed, “My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, LORD, I will seek” (Psalms 27:8). David recognised the yearning in his own heart for the presence and wisdom of God. Perhaps the first step in seeking God’s face is to recognise how spiritually poor we are without Him. To listen our own heart’s cry for the living God.

In Psalm 63, David describes his search for God like a man desperate for water in a hot, dry desert:

You, God, are my God,

earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land

where there is no water. (Psalms 63:1)

Then, following this description, he moves to worship. He sings from the depths of his heart, and he prays every time he wakes in the night.

What better picture can there be of a person who is poor in spirit? As we have said, those who are poor in spirit are those who know their need of God. They are desperate enough to seek his face. In every part of their lives, they know they are dependent on God’s love, His mercy, His strength and His guidance. The poor in spirit are not ashamed to recognise their weaknesses and look to God for help.

And Jesus describes such a person as blessed because they will know and experience God’s Kingdom.

Here’s Psalm 75 from start to finish:

¹ We praise you, God,

we praise you, for your Name is near;

people tell of your wonderful deeds.

² You say, “I choose the appointed time;

it is I who judge with equity.

³ When the earth and all its people quake,

it is I who hold its pillars firm.

⁴ To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’

and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.

⁵ Do not lift your horns against heaven;

do not speak so defiantly. ’”

⁶ No one from the east or the west

or from the desert can exalt themselves.

⁷ It is God who judges:

He brings one down, he exalts another.

⁸ In the hand of the LORD is a cup

full of foaming wine mixed with spices;

he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth

drink it down to its very dregs.

⁹ As for me, I will declare this forever;

I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,

¹⁰ who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,

but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”

If we were to ask, say, 100 followers of Jesus, “why do we worship God?”, I wonder what replies we might receive. I am sure some will talk about the wonder of His creation – the stars and mountains, the flowers and creatures. Some will no doubt reflect on their own journey so far and express gratitude for what the Lord has done; and some might try to picture him on his heavenly throne ruling as sovereign and king. But perhaps not many will say that they worship the Lord because He is a judge.

And yet, this is the focus of the psalmist, Asaph, in today’s reading. Asaph praises God for His imminence (his name is near in v 1) and for His “wonderful deeds”. But he is not reticent to exalt the Lord as the one who judges. In fact, he knows that worship is the only appropriate response towards one who sees and knows all things. The one who will cut off the horns, that is, strip away the strength of those who defy him. The one who has the power to lift up or cast into eternal death.

A God who judges is an uncomfortable thought for some in our modern world, but it is an essential truth. God will judge the people of the earth, past and present. Arrogance and boasting will melt away before the throne in Heaven. No-one will be able to exalt themselves in His presence.

So, let’s praise Him today, not just for those attributes that are comfortable – his beauty, his love. His greatness. Let’s praise him for his justice, for the good news that he is a God who deals with wrongdoing and evil. For the truth that He is a Judge. And will judge in righteousness and holiness. 

Paul wrote these words to Timothy in his first letter to him: “Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:11-16)

Paul was like a father to Timothy. I bet he was a great mentor, cheering him on, encouraging him and speaking positively into his life. There is a hint in this passage that Timothy might have struggled with a lack of courage or confidence, but Paul knew him well enough to say, “don’t let anyone look down on you”.

One line that jumps out to me though is, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers”.

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Any good pastor or Christian coach will want to say something like that: In other words, “Don’t let temptation overcome you. Walk away from the wrong people. Keep pressing into God. Keep believing. Keep loving those around you.” That’s the “watch your life” bit. Then, “Don’t neglect the reading of Scripture, listen to sound teaching. Let God’s Word challenge and change you.” That is, “Watch your doctrine!”

But Paul gives an unexpected reason: “if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers”. And your hearers. Don’t just do these things because they are good for you, Timothy. Your life and doctrine affect those around you too.

It strikes me that this is probably true for you and me as well. Our lives and what we believe are not just personal choices. They profoundly touch the lives of those we live in close proximity to – our choices and beliefs affect our loved ones, they influence our work mates, and they rub off on our friends.

Perhaps this adds a new incentive to watching our lives and watching our doctrine. We are not islands. Like it or not, the cords that bind us to those around us also transport our values and attitudes. What connects us can inspire for good or drag down for evil.

Let’s be careful how we live our lives and preserve sound doctrine, not just because it is the right thing to do, and not primarily because of the health and blessing we are likely to receive as a result. No! let’s do it because we care how our lives affect others. Let’s watch our lives and doctrine closely for the sake of those around us. 

“… everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:12-17)

This is Paul writing to his younger friend and fellow minister of the Gospel, Timothy. A few verses later he adds, “Preach the word!”

In other words … You have learned the truth, Timothy. You are convinced of it. You have known the Holy Scriptures since you were young. They led you to salvation, they birthed faith in your heart, they drew you to Jesus. The Scriptures come from the very mouth of God, they are literally God-breathed and are powerful for teaching, refuting error, training, forming righteousness in you and in every hungry soul. They are more than enough to prepare you for service. The Scriptures will equip you. No! More than that, you will be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Scriptures are God’s Word. Preach the Word, Timothy! Memorise it, soak it up, then speak it out. Give it away! Be generous with God’s Word.

The are many ways to preach God’s Word and you don’t need to be a trained professional to do it. The Greek word translated as “preach” simply means to “to proclaim, to tell”, but with an urgency wanting others to accept the message. Proclaiming the Gospel is not the same as suggesting a good idea, rather it challenges the mind, convicts the heart and demands a response.

And it doesn’t need a platform or a gifted orator to do its work. God’s Word can unleash its power one friend to another. It can enter the heart of a stranger on the train, and it can slowly grow and create brand new baby-like faith in that relative you have been praying for since you don’t know when.

Because the Scriptures are God-breathed, they don’t depend on our skills or lack of them to accomplish their purpose. They simply journey and bear their fruit on the back of faith and obedience.

Preach the Word, child of God. First read it, soak it up. Make it part of you; allow it into you, invite it to be part of you. To form you, shape you, equip you. Then give it away. Share His Word like it’s the cure for every disease known to man. Proclaim it with conviction. Urgency. Preach it.

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he goes on to warn that, “the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Tim 4:3-4).

The opportunities to share God’s Word with this or that person may not always be there. So let’s take them as God provides them before they disappear.

Preach the Word!