"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 2 February 2017 with Scripture Matthew 5:13-20-------
Matthew 5:13 “You are salt for the Land. But if salt becomes tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except being thrown out for people to trample on.
14 “You are light for the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don’t cover it with a bowl but put it on a lampstand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
17 “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P’rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven![Complete Jewish Bible]
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The first time I traveled to San Lucas Toliman in Guatemala, I was struck by the power of light in the darkness of the night. We were staying in a hotel that had a roof we could climb up to. Once up there we could see forever--across the beautiful Lake Atitlan. At night in the pitch dark the lights around the lake that marked the various villages shined bright as could be. It was as if nighttime was not so. Light truly was not overcome by the darkness.
Jesus in Mathew's fifth chapter calls his followers to be the ones that shine bright in the darkness that is reality. This calling has found its way into the liturgy of baptism and in many ways serves as the marching orders for those who follow Christ. Like the village lights on the banks of a beautiful lake, you too are called to shine in such a way that the power of darkness is overcome by the gift of light. How will you do that this week?
God of creation, give us the courage and strength to speak, live and love in a way that brings light into a world so often filled with darkness. Ignite the fire of justice and mercy inside of us so that it overflows from our very being. Amen.
Justin A Grimm, '05
Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop for Next Generation Ministries, Saint Paul Area Synod
Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.
15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
[New Revised Standard Version]
-------Jesus in Mathew's fifth chapter calls his followers to be the ones that shine bright in the darkness that is reality. This calling has found its way into the liturgy of baptism and in many ways serves as the marching orders for those who follow Christ. Like the village lights on the banks of a beautiful lake, you too are called to shine in such a way that the power of darkness is overcome by the gift of light. How will you do that this week?
God of creation, give us the courage and strength to speak, live and love in a way that brings light into a world so often filled with darkness. Ignite the fire of justice and mercy inside of us so that it overflows from our very being. Amen.
Justin A Grimm, '05
Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop for Next Generation Ministries, Saint Paul Area Synod
Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.
15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
[New Revised Standard Version]
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