- Matthew Chapter 5:1-20
I, like many have felt great comfort in these words of Jesus, we have all felt sometimes, weak, persecuted or had reason to mourn due to the difficulties of life. But, in Christ Jesus, my Lord I rejoice!
I remember one lady in New Zealand, Michelle, a beautiful spirit who came forth from waters of baptism her face glowing. She had come unto her Savior and Friend. Her heart was changed.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus Christ tells tells us how important our inner attitudes are. The Beatitudes from this sermon are about attitudes of the heart and purity in truth.
The Psalms also help us understand this same message;
Psalms 24:3-5 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
LIGHT
What is light used for, why did the Savior choose light in his analogy? Light helps us to see clearly, it is also used for heat and it is often used to show enlightenment (a light bulb in a cartoon over a characters head) light can also be reflected upon other surfaces. The Savior is the Light of the World. We can reflect his light as we share it with others. He then becomes our source of enlightenment, heat and clarity, Isn't it wonderful that light, shared, from a candle doesn't run out! It continues to give and give, the fuel source is endless! So is Jesus' light for us forever! Light on a candlestick can grow to a very strong bonfire when shared. It helps us to overcome the coldness and the darkness, It changes our spiritual temperature, I believe Jesus wanted us to see this analogy.
Before this message of LIGHT the Savior gives a message about SALT
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
SALT
Why did the savoir use salt in his analogy what is it used for? In ancient times salt was used as a preservative for food. For ancient Israel, it represented covenants and their preservation with Jehovah. When our actions reflect our belief system we are "the salt of the earth" which retains our Savior, we also remember our promises to Him. If we lose our Savior, we can become bland. Losing savor in this scripture is clearly an analogy of losing our Savior. Salt helps to brings out flavors in a recipe. The Savior helps bring out the best in each of us. Salt also was used for healing wounds. Jesus (the Savior of the World) like salt is the ultimate healer of our emotional and spiritual and even physical wounds as well. As we covenant with him, through baptism, and other ordinances we too, as ancient Israel, promise to Savor our Savior.
Savor and Light being altered also eludes to a contamination of His truth.
Salt can lose its savor only through mixture and contamination. Light can be diminished only when it is doused or filtered. Evidence of contamination and doused light, an apostasy from the truth, can be found in readings of the epistles to the saints after the death of Christ in the New Testament. Paul to the apostle, Timothy explained what had or would eventually happen to the truths established by Jesus Christ.
(2 Timothy 4:3)For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
This contamination of truth originally established by Jesus Christ is called Apostasy. Note the words of Paul in his second epistle to the Thessalonians.
(2 Thessalonians 2:3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
We see that the apostasy was already starting, even in Paul's day!
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
My friend, Michelle, had been turned to the truth because a friend; a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was an example to her, he had kept the Savior in his life, his light was shining and his savior was pure. When we, as missionaries, knocked on her door it it was opened. She said; "I am glad you are here." We taught her of the truthfulness of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know His message, the one I shared with Michelle, is true and that Jesus Christ's Church has been restored to the earth - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His Church in the latest days. CLICK HERE to learn more, and come to realize more than before that He LIVES!
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus Christ tells tells us how important our inner attitudes are. The Beatitudes from this sermon are about attitudes of the heart and purity in truth.
What does it mean to be a "Light of the World?"
To me it means to give all you have to Him. Come to know him, go about doing good for him who died for you. But, more than doing and knowing it is about Being and Becoming...as we become closer to him this will motivate our actions.
The Psalms also help us understand this same message;
Psalms 24:3-5 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
LIGHT
What is light used for, why did the Savior choose light in his analogy? Light helps us to see clearly, it is also used for heat and it is often used to show enlightenment (a light bulb in a cartoon over a characters head) light can also be reflected upon other surfaces. The Savior is the Light of the World. We can reflect his light as we share it with others. He then becomes our source of enlightenment, heat and clarity, Isn't it wonderful that light, shared, from a candle doesn't run out! It continues to give and give, the fuel source is endless! So is Jesus' light for us forever! Light on a candlestick can grow to a very strong bonfire when shared. It helps us to overcome the coldness and the darkness, It changes our spiritual temperature, I believe Jesus wanted us to see this analogy.
Before this message of LIGHT the Savior gives a message about SALT
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
SALT
Why did the savoir use salt in his analogy what is it used for? In ancient times salt was used as a preservative for food. For ancient Israel, it represented covenants and their preservation with Jehovah. When our actions reflect our belief system we are "the salt of the earth" which retains our Savior, we also remember our promises to Him. If we lose our Savior, we can become bland. Losing savor in this scripture is clearly an analogy of losing our Savior. Salt helps to brings out flavors in a recipe. The Savior helps bring out the best in each of us. Salt also was used for healing wounds. Jesus (the Savior of the World) like salt is the ultimate healer of our emotional and spiritual and even physical wounds as well. As we covenant with him, through baptism, and other ordinances we too, as ancient Israel, promise to Savor our Savior.
Savor and Light being altered also eludes to a contamination of His truth.
Salt can lose its savor only through mixture and contamination. Light can be diminished only when it is doused or filtered. Evidence of contamination and doused light, an apostasy from the truth, can be found in readings of the epistles to the saints after the death of Christ in the New Testament. Paul to the apostle, Timothy explained what had or would eventually happen to the truths established by Jesus Christ.
(2 Timothy 4:3)For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
This contamination of truth originally established by Jesus Christ is called Apostasy. Note the words of Paul in his second epistle to the Thessalonians.
(2 Thessalonians 2:3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
We see that the apostasy was already starting, even in Paul's day!
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
My friend, Michelle, had been turned to the truth because a friend; a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was an example to her, he had kept the Savior in his life, his light was shining and his savior was pure. When we, as missionaries, knocked on her door it it was opened. She said; "I am glad you are here." We taught her of the truthfulness of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know His message, the one I shared with Michelle, is true and that Jesus Christ's Church has been restored to the earth - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His Church in the latest days. CLICK HERE to learn more, and come to realize more than before that He LIVES!
No comments:
Post a Comment