"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 3 February 2017 with Scripture Matthew 5:13-20

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 3 February 2017 with Scripture Matthew 5:13-20
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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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Singer/songwriter and dear friend of mine, May Erlewine, has a song entitled "Shine On." The chorus of the song is as follows: "Shine on, Shine on, there'll be time enough for darkness when everything's gone. Shine on, Shine on, there is work to be done in the dark before dawn." I find myself singing that chorus almost every morning when I awake, as a reminder of the work that is to be done. In many ways these words articulate the baptismal calling we are given and the mandate from Jesus himself in the Gospel of Matthew.
It would be very easy at times to simply give in to the fact that darkness is too much--and to be honest, people would understand. But the thing we have is this promise from Jesus that darkness, evil, pain and sorrow does not have the last word. No, Christ has the last word, and that word is resurrection, new life and hope. Because we know this is the last word, we have a responsibility to get to work so that others too might know that truth. It's time to get to work--are you in? 
Everlasting God, your light shines brightly through Jesus. Enliven us and our work so that grace, mercy and truth are made known in this world. 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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