A bright day in Israel

The crowds streamed up the side of the mountain, hearing rumours that the teacher was about to speak again. Never mind that it was the hottest time of day, or that nobody had remembered to bring any food along for the midday meal... the great renowned teacher that had been rocking the whole country was about to speak. Nobody wanted to miss it as they all tried to get as close as possible to hear what he would say. As he began to speak, a complete hush fell over the crowd as they began to hang on to every word.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven...."

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That's how I imagine what must have happened on that day that Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. Such a picture that is evoked by the simple words "Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down."

Today I went on my first "date" with Jesus. Dove right into the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) with an iced mocha latte in hand and even though I think I've read it about 8 times, and heard sermons preached on it 10 times more than that, it never quite hit me like it did today. After reading through it once, I focused in on v. 13-16 (because the Beatitudes are a little beyond me). What stood out to me the most is how much this relates to the book that I'm reading right now (Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper.) For in v. 16, it says "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

I want to emphasize a part of that passage. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." For the first time, I noticed the that in the verse. What is the significance of this simple word introducing the essential clause "they may see your good deeds" you might ask? After all... it's just a word.

But the that in v. 16 makes an important distinction, one that too many of us forget in this North American society of individualistic achievement. We are not the light of the world because of our good deeds. We are the light of the world that casts light ON our good deeds that point to the Father in heaven who is most worthy of praise. The lamp does not exist to draw attention to itself but to illuminate that which surrounds it so that men may see what is going on around them. We are the spiritual lights to the world, shining that men may see the glory of God that is Christ crucified for us in us and all around us. We "shine like stars in the universe" not because of anything we have done but because we "hold out the word of life" that comes from God through his Son Jesus Christ. (See Philippians 2:14-16)

If this sort of revelation is indicative of what the next year is going to be like... well I don't even know what to think about that. All I can say is....

May His name be praised forever and ever... AMEN.