Matthew 5:13 and 14 indicate that we are the salt and light of the world, and if we are not, we should be. I can't help but relate this passage to the upcoming presidential election and the campaigns. One candidate is using the rally cry of "change." People from all walks of live are buying into the mantra. But can one "shining light" Christian be contagious for others?
Before I started my walk with Christ, I felt uncomfortable around Christians. For whatever reason, I failed to see many as examples of Christ-like living. Either I unintentionally or intentionally overlooked it, or it wasn't projected outwardly from people that called themselves Christians. My exposure to positive examples of Christian love was limited.
After I started on my journey, I was exposed to people who were examples of this salt and light that is referred to in this passage. My somewhat negative views of the hypocritical Christian were beginning to erode as I met genuine, compassionate people. I was introduced to people who personified the meaning of "Christ-like." They may not have been perfect, and didn't claim to be, but they projected a sincere image of love and compassion. I could feel the change and could see the light referred to in the passage.
I have been blessed to have met people that typify the meaning of the beatitudes and Matthew 5:15-16. I have learned that it is contagious to be around those that "let their light shine" (Matt. 5:16). I can't help but try and emulate those that have inspired me; just as their light cannot be hidden, I hope that the flicker in life becomes a light that will show my "Christ-like" living and bring glory to God by projecting that image. I thank God that He has given me great role models for my journey.
I hope that they know who they are, and I hope that they know the impact that they have had on my life. It is my hope and prayer that I may one day be the example of a "shining light" that would be contagious to others. That is the real "change" this community, country, and world could use. By being mindful of what we do and say, and being intentional about bringing glory to God, each one of use can ignite that change.

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Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

When I read this verse, I think of someone I knew from a church I previously attended. She always gave out a radiant vibe. She was always--and I'm not exaggerating--smiling and always happy. Every time I had the opportunity to be around her, I would come away thinking, "Wow, I wish I could be like her, and I could give off that same vibe." What made her even more amazing was that she had survived, and inspired others while battling, breast cancer. Unfortunately, she succumbed to a brain tumor. But I remember seeing her in church one Sunday, smiling and happy, even in the final stages of battling this brain tumor.

What made her so strong? What was that vibe she sent out? The answer is her faith in Jesus.

God, I pray that my faith in You can be so strong that people can sense it and want to experience You. I pray that our church will be the beacon to draw people to You. Let Your light shine through us, Lord. Amen.

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Blessed are the peacemakers. When and how did Jesus play the role of peacemaker and thereby give us an example to follow? As I searched my heart for this answer, I thought of the story in John 8:1-11.

The Pharisees brought a woman "caught in adultery" to Jesus to test whether he would follow the Law of Moses and concur that she be stoned to death. Jesus was placed right in the middle of a situation ready to brim over with violence. The easy path would have been to let the Pharisees and crowd carry out the sentence in the traditional manner. But Jesus did three unusual things to create peace from this potentially violent situation. The first thing he did was to bend over and write in the sand. This to me is fascinating and is not clearly explained in the text. However, I imagine that Jesus was "tuning in" to the will of God at the deepest level during this moment, recognizing that a new way of being among the Jews was to be born that day. I also imagine this action as one which allowed time for the passions in the group to cool so that they could better listen to his words. Once he did speak, Jesus did the second unusual thing. With his words ("if any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her"), he was able to help the accusers turn their attention inward, to examine their own inner being. Once they did so, it seemed that their wish to do violence toward the woman dissipated. Finally, Jesus himself declined to condemn the woman for her sin. All involved parties seemed to be at peace by the end of this episode which had begun with such potential for violence. We can choose to follow Jesus' example as a peacemaker when flashes of anger and condemnation come from within us or from those around us. As we notice these feelings arise, we can first turn inward and find God's presence and wisdom in our heart. We can then encourage others (and ourselves) to examine our role in the brewing conflict. Finally, we can refuse to condemn those who seem on the verge of "getting what they deserve" according to conventional wisdom. Peace will likely follow.

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Peacemaker - a person, group, or nation that tries to make peace, esp. by reconciling parties who disagree, quarrel, or fight.

I have heard it said that in order to extend love to others as Jesus had told us to, you have to have accomplished two things first. The first step is to love God, unconditionally. The love you have for God can then be extended into the love of self. Once you have achieved true love for your self that comes from God you can then reach out and love others. I say we expand this idea, as it pertains to peace. We are people who pray, and when we pray we should ask God everyday for peace. If you do this daily you will feel a overwhelming sense of peace within yourself, you can then extend that peace to others. You cannot settle a dispute among peers, family, or friends if you are still battling within yourself. There is not one person in this church who is not in some sort of war within themselves. Those battles could be your weight, it could be addictions, it could be family, finances, or even relationships in general. A country at war cannot fight battles on two fronts, your armies will be spread too thin and you will ultimately lose the fight. And a country at civil war cannot compete with any other enemy on any front. So the first step to being peacemakers is to settle those quarrels that we have within us.

Now most of us when we are told to be peacemakers, think of settling disputes outside the church, with the non-Christians of the world, and yes, this is the general idea. But step two in this endeavor, we must bring peace within the church itself. It seems sometimes that when we disagree with each other, or fail each other in some way, we still call the other members of our congregation Christians, but we forget to call them our Christian "brothers and sisters." We are, in essence, a family after all. And in those families there will no doubt be sibling rivalries. But you will find that if we pray for peace, and accomplish that peace within ourselves, that we cannot harbor ill will towards our family. Just as in finding peace within ourselves, the answer to finding peace within our church community, that can eventually extend to outside the church, is to pray to God to guide us in this Quest. Pray for the will, and pray for the way. If what you do within yourself or with your church family does not harbor peace, but escalates the battle, you have to realize that you are not using the teachings of Christ but using your own wisdom. And 'Such wisdom does not come down from heaven, but is earthly and unspiritual.' James 3:15
The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18
Peace be with you.

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In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus compares his followers to the "salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." He first talks about salt which has lost its "saltiness" as no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. This is an unusually harsh statement from a Teacher who describes redemption and forgiveness in almost all of his Teachings. The NIV Study Bible states that much of the salt used by the Israelites at that time came from the Dead Sea and was full of impurities, which caused the salt to lose its flavor. This interpretation seems to confirm this as a "harsh" statement. For, if being filled with impurities is the test of our "saltiness", I am afraid that we all would fail such a test. God, grant us understanding as we read your Word.

Right after this harsh statement, Jesus immediately calls his followers the "light of the world." That is quite a calling and is somewhat scary to think about how to fulfill such a role.

I think that placing these two passages back to back may have been intended as a signpost on the path to awakening. For it is often after we become fully aware of our failings and experience descent into darkness and pain ("thrown out and trampled by men") that we surrender fully, and the light of the Father can shine through us to the world.

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