Categories
Daily Post

Be These

Be These Art

I found this image while looking for some stuff to share with my middle-schoolers yesterday. I am sure you may have seen this design before, on t-shirts or on posters. Still it is a good reminder of our simple objective this week.

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on.

14 “You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. 16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16(NCV)

And that leads me to my question for you to ponder. In what ways will you be a light for other people? How will others taste your saltiness?  How will you ‘be these’?

Categories
Daily Post

To Do List

A friend on mine emailed me yesterday after the post about the extra mile.  He mentioned in his email that on a recent trip to the Happiest Place on Earth he noticed a t-shirt with 4 lines on the front – get up, love god, love people, go to bed!  That’s a pretty awesome To Do list.

todo

So, I decided to quickly create a t-shirt or two (or three)myself – feel free to order yourself one!  Remember these designs were built in like 5 minutes each! 🙂  Anyway, see if you can accomplish that simple list each day.  It’s pretty much the first and second law!

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

 

Categories
Daily Post

The Second Mile

I grabbed a seldom used older Bible off my book shelf yesterday to get a different perspective on the section of scripture I was teaching.  I discovered several markings and notes in this collection and become quickly distracted from my original task as I flipped pages noting things of importance and discovery from a younger version of me.  Some of the markings I actually recalled, others where new again.  Several of them were verses or sections that I still go to often, embossed on my brain from years of meditation.  Then there were passages like this one, that you know, but seem to drift out of your consciousness as time passes.

41 Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Matthew 5:41 (NASB)

This particular sentence, spoken by the Christ as he encouraged his listeners to turn the other cheek when they meet head on with injustice has so many connotations.  It seems to be a call for persistence, a call to be exemplary, and a call to stand out from the crowd all in one.  It seems it could be taken slightly out of context and used as a rallying cry to overcome obstacles set in front of you.  As of course, as I runner, I can draw all sorts of meaning and application from it.  But in the end, it’s just a practical example of how those that follow the Christ should behave – naturally giving more, willingly giving more than asked – especially in the face of injustice and self-sacrifice.

What a simple statement, but what a great challenge it presents.  I think I can see why I would underline it in my text.  When mastery comes, so does all sorts of life change.

How about you, how’s that second mile looking?

Categories
Daily Post

When you

I was recently browsing the sermon of Jesus in Matthew 6, and thought it was interesting that he started this particular section by saying “when you do ‘acts of righteousness'”.   It was not “if you do”, or when you talk about doing, but when you do!  There’s an obvious expectation from this guy that we will do.  He goes on to mention giving, fasting and praying and sets up a whole different set of guidelines to follow when you do those things.

So interesting that he obviously expects that we will be doers!

How about you?

 

Categories
Daily Post

Don’t Look Back

I am not sure why, but the Boston song “Don’t Look Back” from way back in 1978 is circulating around in my mind this morning. Considering lots of things, there may be a reason for that to be my anthem today, however, it’s also a fairly good way to approach everyday. And it seems pretty consistent with some dude from 2000 years ago who said these words on top of a little hillside.

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6 NIV

Take care of today and do the needful!