Scripture: Matt. 5:13-20, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Salt has been on my mind this week. The first sentence of the Gospel talks about salt. I never really understood the expression “salt of the earth.” It’s something older people said when I was growing up: Mrs. Johnson is the salt of the earth, they’d say. I couldn’t even imagine what that might mean. Now I realize that that was good—they thought Mrs.Johnson was genuine…honest.
I also read in a devotional this week a bit about salt and cooking. (I don’t cook, but I kept reading). Maybe a cook would use a tablespoon of salt to prepare an entire meal. Without the salt, dinner would be bland. Yet just eating an entire tablespoon of salt by itself sounds pretty awful. It’s a matter of the right amount of salt, in just the right places.
I also thought a lot about Pastor Gustav’s message last week on the Beatitudes: blessed are the meek, for they…; the peacemakers, for they….Gustav asked us to think about “they.” Was Jesus talking about us, or about others? Does “they” include me?
Today’s passage is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Here, there doesn’t seem to be any question: Jesus says YOU are the salt of the earth. YOU are the light of the world. He doesn’t even say you will be the salt of the earth, the light of the world. You are!
So far, I’m enjoying this reading. I should let my light shine before others. Great! Some days I feel like I can do that.
Then the lesson takes a sharp turn. Jesus says: Do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. Not one letter, not even one piece of a letter will pass from the law. This is a problem. I know that I can’t fulfill the law. I can’t. I am well aware of my sin and how I fall short so many times. Jesus even says that unless I exceed the scribes and Pharisees, I will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. These Pharisees were known for their attention to all the details of the law. I can’t exceed them. I don’t even belong in the same room with these devout Pharisees.
Jesus tells us later that the most important part of the law is this: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. And “you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two hang all the law and the prophets.” I know there are eight more commandments, but I’m already sunk. What hope can I find here, in this very direct message?
I do find hope exactly here. Not only does Jesus affirm us as salt and light, he tells us that he has come to fulfill the law. In his ministry on earth, Jesus offers a new interpretation of the law. For some, the law itself is considered a gift—a path to salvation. Now our savior comes, to fulfill, perhaps to complete the law and give us a much greater gift.
If I page through Leviticus, I see the law is very complex. There is so much more than not eating pork or not working on the Sabbath. But Jesus says the law is to love God and our neighbor. How would my life change if I did exactly that?
In First Corinthians, Paul is also direct. Evidently, the Corinthians haven’t been getting along. He doesn’t spell it out for us. But, as Jesus did, he makes a very clear statement: “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” It’s so simple and so profound. I decided to know nothing but Christ crucified.
How would my life change if I said this? If I did exactly this? Jesus has fulfilled the law, becoming a sacrifice for us, showing the greatest love for you and for me.
Paul goes on to tell us that we can’t even imagine what God has prepared for those who love him. That’s love. That’s hope. That’s light.
Many of us grew up in colder climates. Epiphany is a very dark time. The daylight is so precious. The image of Christ coming into a dark world as light is very powerful. Christ is the light of the world and we are part of that light. Each one of us. Christ tells us we are!
I am more at ease with being light than salt. Let me return to that devotional about salt. Remember that big spoon of salt? It’s no good all together, but it’s great if it is spread among all the dishes of the feast. Perhaps it’s like all of us gathering tonight. How much more value would we have if each of us would carry a bit of salt into the world, dispersing it exactly where it is needed?
A lot of thanks for all your effort on this site. My mother really loves conducting investigation and it’s really obvious why. We hear all about the compelling way you give simple information through this website and in addition inspire contribution from the others on this topic plus our daughter has been starting to learn so much. Take advantage of the rest of the new year. Your performing a wonderful job.
I wish to show some appreciation to you just for rescuing me from such a matter. Right after checking throughout the search engines and meeting proposals that were not beneficial, I figured my life was well over. Living devoid of the approaches to the issues you have solved all through this write-up is a crucial case, as well as the ones that could have badly damaged my career if I had not discovered your web site. The mastery and kindness in playing with all the stuff was precious. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I had not come across such a step like this. I can also at this time look forward to my future. Thank you very much for the reliable and amazing guide. I will not hesitate to endorse your web page to any person who wants and needs direction on this subject matter.
I needed to compose you this very little word to be able to give many thanks yet again over the exceptional pointers you’ve provided on this website. It’s certainly strangely generous with people like you to grant unreservedly exactly what numerous people could have distributed for an electronic book in order to make some dough for themselves, notably considering that you might well have done it in the event you desired. These inspiring ideas as well acted to provide a great way to fully grasp other people online have similar passion like my personal own to figure out more pertaining to this matter. I’m certain there are many more pleasurable opportunities up front for individuals that go through your site.
I would like to convey my passion for your kind-heartedness supporting all those that require assistance with the field. Your personal dedication to getting the message all over appears to be extraordinarily functional and have enabled employees much like me to get to their pursuits. Your entire insightful hints and tips can mean a great deal a person like me and far more to my office colleagues. With thanks; from all of us.
A lot of thanks for all your valuable work on this site. Debby take interest in participating in research and it’s really easy to see why. We all know all of the lively manner you give priceless thoughts on your web site and in addition encourage participation from people about this area so my simple princess is now learning a great deal. Take pleasure in the rest of the new year. You have been doing a tremendous job.
My wife and i ended up being absolutely happy Louis could conclude his web research through your precious recommendations he was given when using the blog. It’s not at all simplistic to simply happen to be giving for free methods which often the others could have been making money from. And we also do understand we have got the website owner to thank for that. Most of the explanations you’ve made, the easy site menu, the relationships your site aid to instill – it’s everything terrific, and it’s facilitating our son in addition to our family believe that this subject is cool, and that is especially important. Many thanks for all!
I want to show my thanks to you for bailing me out of this particular condition. Just after exploring throughout the world wide web and seeing proposals which are not beneficial, I assumed my life was done. Existing without the presence of solutions to the issues you have sorted out as a result of your entire blog post is a critical case, and ones which might have in a wrong way affected my entire career if I had not discovered the blog. Your ability and kindness in handling every part was valuable. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had not come upon such a subject like this. I can at this point look ahead to my future. Thanks for your time so much for the expert and effective help. I won’t hesitate to suggest your web page to anybody who will need guidelines about this subject.
My husband and i felt lucky Emmanuel managed to round up his research from your precious recommendations he gained in your site. It’s not at all simplistic just to continually be giving away information and facts the rest may have been selling. We take into account we have got the website owner to be grateful to because of that. Most of the illustrations you made, the easy website menu, the relationships your site assist to foster – it’s got mostly extraordinary, and it is aiding our son and our family reckon that this subject matter is thrilling, and that is exceedingly indispensable. Thanks for all!
Thanks for your own labor on this blog. Gloria really likes carrying out research and it’s really easy to see why. Most of us learn all relating to the dynamic tactic you make useful items by means of your web site and therefore improve response from others on this theme while my princess is actually becoming educated a lot. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the new year. Your conducting a glorious job.
I am just commenting to make you understand what a useful discovery my wife’s child experienced viewing your site. She noticed a good number of things, which include how it is like to have a wonderful helping mood to have the mediocre ones without problems fully grasp certain advanced matters. You really did more than people’s expected results. I appreciate you for distributing those great, dependable, revealing not to mention unique thoughts on the topic to Evelyn.
My husband and i have been contented when Albert could finish off his homework using the precious recommendations he received when using the web page. It is now and again perplexing just to always be freely giving information that a number of people may have been making money from. Therefore we fully grasp we need the blog owner to be grateful to because of that. Those illustrations you have made, the easy web site navigation, the relationships you can make it easier to engender – it is mostly awesome, and it is making our son and us reason why the theme is awesome, and that is extraordinarily pressing. Many thanks for all the pieces!
I needed to put you one very small remark just to thank you very much the moment again for your personal lovely basics you have featured on this page. This is so particularly generous with you to offer publicly what many individuals might have distributed as an e book in order to make some cash on their own, especially now that you might well have tried it in case you decided. The creative ideas as well worked to be a great way to recognize that other people have similar zeal much like my personal own to grasp much more on the topic of this issue. I’m certain there are some more fun times up front for people who read through your blog.
I precisely needed to thank you very much once more. I am not sure the things I would have tried without these tactics shown by you about that industry. It previously was a scary scenario for me personally, but observing the specialised fashion you processed it forced me to jump with contentment. I am just grateful for the support and then have high hopes you are aware of an amazing job you were putting in teaching other individuals thru your website. I am sure you’ve never encountered all of us.
I wish to express my respect for your kind-heartedness for folks who must have help with this one question. Your very own commitment to getting the solution across has been extraordinarily practical and has without exception empowered men and women just like me to attain their dreams. Your personal useful instruction implies much a person like me and much more to my office workers. Regards; from all of us.
I enjoy you because of all your valuable work on this site. My mum enjoys managing investigation and it’s easy to see why. Almost all notice all of the compelling form you deliver useful thoughts on the blog and in addition improve response from other ones on that concept so our favorite simple princess is really starting to learn a great deal. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the new year. You have been performing a useful job.
I wanted to compose you the very small remark just to say thanks a lot once again with your beautiful tips you’ve featured above. It was certainly particularly generous with people like you to make publicly all a few individuals might have sold for an e-book to earn some cash for their own end, mostly now that you could possibly have tried it if you decided. These techniques in addition worked to be the fantastic way to understand that someone else have the identical zeal the same as my own to find out way more pertaining to this matter. I know there are a lot more enjoyable moments ahead for many who look over your site.
I intended to put you this tiny remark just to thank you the moment again relating to the extraordinary concepts you’ve shown at this time. This has been really open-handed with you to present extensively what most of us could possibly have sold as an e-book to help with making some money on their own, particularly considering that you might have done it if you wanted. These inspiring ideas additionally served to become fantastic way to know that some people have similar eagerness just as my very own to know more and more related to this issue. I am certain there are several more pleasurable periods ahead for those who looked over your site.
I simply wanted to construct a small message in order to appreciate you for the fabulous steps you are writing at this website. My particularly long internet investigation has finally been paid with sensible insight to write about with my visitors. I ‘d claim that we website visitors are definitely blessed to dwell in a wonderful community with many special people with great strategies. I feel pretty lucky to have come across your web site and look forward to tons of more enjoyable times reading here. Thank you once again for all the details.
I want to show my love for your generosity giving support to men and women that have the need for assistance with this particular niche. Your real commitment to passing the solution all around was wonderfully good and has surely empowered individuals much like me to arrive at their pursuits. Your entire helpful tutorial signifies so much to me and extremely more to my peers. With thanks; from each one of us.
Thanks a lot for giving everyone an exceptionally marvellous opportunity to read in detail from here. It is usually so brilliant and also stuffed with a great time for me and my office mates to search your blog really 3 times in 7 days to study the fresh issues you have. And lastly, I am actually satisfied concerning the perfect guidelines you give. Certain 2 points in this post are in reality the most efficient we’ve ever had.
Thanks so much for giving everyone a very terrific opportunity to discover important secrets from this blog. It is usually very good and jam-packed with a lot of fun for me and my office peers to search your web site at least three times weekly to study the fresh issues you have got. And of course, we are usually happy concerning the mind-blowing techniques served by you. Some 1 facts in this post are in fact the most beneficial we’ve had.
I precisely had to thank you very much all over again. I do not know the things that I could possibly have handled without the type of ways revealed by you directly on that topic. Entirely was the frightening issue in my circumstances, however , encountering a professional style you processed it took me to jump over joy. I am grateful for your advice and as well , hope you realize what a great job your are getting into teaching the mediocre ones through your site. Probably you’ve never got to know all of us.
I am glad for writing to make you be aware of of the nice discovery my wife’s princess had visiting your site. She figured out many things, with the inclusion of what it’s like to have an amazing helping character to let others just know selected impossible things. You undoubtedly did more than my desires. Thanks for offering those great, dependable, revealing as well as easy guidance on this topic to Kate.
I’m writing to make you know of the terrific discovery my wife’s daughter had studying your blog. She learned several issues, not to mention what it is like to possess an incredible giving style to get most people without hassle know a number of very confusing matters. You undoubtedly surpassed people’s expectations. Thanks for providing such effective, trustworthy, educational and cool thoughts on your topic to Ethel.
I and my buddies appeared to be analyzing the good guides found on your site then all of the sudden developed a terrible feeling I never expressed respect to you for them. Those people were happy to see them and have actually been making the most of these things. We appreciate you being well kind and then for selecting such smart issues millions of individuals are really desirous to learn about. My personal honest regret for not expressing gratitude to sooner.
My husband and i ended up being absolutely contented when John could finish up his research through the entire precious recommendations he made out of the weblog. It’s not at all simplistic just to choose to be releasing procedures that a number of people could have been selling. We acknowledge we need the writer to give thanks to for that. All the illustrations you’ve made, the straightforward site menu, the friendships your site help to create – it’s everything exceptional, and it’s really assisting our son in addition to our family understand this situation is awesome, and that is rather serious. Many thanks for all the pieces!
I would like to get across my appreciation for your generosity for folks who need guidance on your topic. Your special commitment to getting the message all over appears to be surprisingly interesting and has regularly made somebody just like me to get to their ambitions. Your entire interesting help and advice denotes much a person like me and extremely more to my mates. With thanks; from everyone of us.
I want to show appreciation to the writer for bailing me out of this condition. Because of researching through the world wide web and getting tricks which are not pleasant, I believed my entire life was done. Being alive without the approaches to the difficulties you’ve solved by way of your main posting is a crucial case, and the kind which may have in a wrong way damaged my entire career if I hadn’t come across your blog post. Your own personal expertise and kindness in playing with every aspect was tremendous. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had not discovered such a solution like this. I’m able to at this moment relish my future. Thanks for your time so much for the high quality and amazing guide. I will not hesitate to recommend your site to anyone who requires recommendations about this matter.
A lot of thanks for all of your efforts on this blog. Gloria delights in participating in investigation and it’s simple to grasp why. Many of us know all regarding the dynamic mode you create precious tips on the website and foster response from other individuals on this issue and our child is actually learning so much. Take advantage of the rest of the new year. You are always performing a pretty cool job.
I have to show my thanks to you just for rescuing me from this type of issue. After browsing through the world wide web and seeing opinions which were not productive, I was thinking my life was well over. Being alive without the answers to the issues you have fixed by way of your entire posting is a crucial case, and the ones which might have badly affected my career if I hadn’t noticed your web blog. Your good mastery and kindness in handling all the pieces was crucial. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t discovered such a step like this. It’s possible to at this moment relish my future. Thank you so much for this reliable and sensible guide. I won’t be reluctant to propose your web blog to any individual who would need assistance on this area.
I happen to be commenting to let you understand what a cool discovery my cousin’s daughter gained reading through your webblog. She discovered a lot of things, most notably what it’s like to possess a marvelous coaching character to have folks easily master some complicated matters. You undoubtedly surpassed our expectations. Thank you for supplying these productive, dependable, revealing as well as unique tips about this topic to Emily.
I have to express appreciation to you for rescuing me from such a problem. Just after looking out throughout the the web and finding things that were not productive, I believed my life was done. Living without the solutions to the problems you’ve resolved by way of your guide is a crucial case, and ones which may have badly affected my career if I had not encountered the website. Your personal competence and kindness in handling everything was priceless. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t discovered such a solution like this. I’m able to at this moment look ahead to my future. Thanks a lot very much for the skilled and amazing guide. I will not think twice to suggest your blog post to any person who will need direction on this situation.
I intended to post you a little observation just to give thanks as before just for the marvelous methods you’ve shared on this site. It is so particularly generous of people like you to make openly just what a lot of people might have marketed for an electronic book to earn some cash for their own end, specifically considering that you might well have done it if you considered necessary. These suggestions additionally acted to provide a great way to fully grasp most people have the identical keenness really like my personal own to learn many more with respect to this matter. I’m sure there are many more pleasant moments in the future for individuals that see your blog.