The Light of the World
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16
by Alan Trafford
Darkness is something we rarely experience in our modern, urban world. Our ancestors knew the terror of the night, when every breaking twig became an imagined threat and the moaning of the wind sent shivers down every spine. Nowadays, it is difficult to escape from the light. The clouds reflect the city’s glow. Even in the countryside, passing cars make the world as bright as day, even if only for a moment. But those who heard Jesus knew the value of the light, just as they knew the dangers of the darkness.
Jesus came as the Light of the world,[1] as the One who had been sent to those dwelling in darkness.[2] Those who chose to follow Him moved out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of Light.[3] They were charged to bear witness to the Light, and to share that Light in a world still shrouded in darkness. That is our task, too! We are to so live out the values of the Kingdom that others will be drawn to Christ. We are the light of the world, not just because we reflect Christ, but because we share in His glory.
We are to be like a city set on a hill. Perhaps Jesus was thinking of Jerusalem, the bright light of the Jewish people, set on Zion’s hill? Or, perhaps, Jesus merely used an illustration familiar to those who lived in First Century Palestine. A city, raised above the plain brings light and security. It cannot be hidden. In the same way, we are to be like a lamp in the home, which one would certainly not place beneath a bowl. The purpose of a lamp is to illumine. The purpose of God’s people is to bring light where there is none, to expose the deeds of darkness, [4] and to lift up the Kingdom of God.
Once again, we should note the clear distinction between those who follow Christ and those who do not. We tend to think in shades of grey. We minimize our differences in order to attract others. This is a mistake. Our world represents the darkness because so many in it have lost their moral compass. In their confusion they call evil good. They live by their own lights, which are really not lights at all. In such a world, it is our responsibility to hold fast to Jesus, and to live as those who have been redeemed.
Lord Jesus,
Shine in me.
Burn away the blemishes that disfigure my witness.
Let me live for You alone.
Then, let me shine – not for my glory, but for Yours.
Like a city on a hill,
as a lamp upon a stand,
may I shine for You.
Amen.
[1] John 8:12
[2] Matthew 4:16
[3] Colossians 1:12-13
[4] Ephesians 5:8-14
Thursday, February 18, 2010
A prayer for Lenten journey
Humble confession
Almighty God, you alone are good and holy.
Purify our lives and make us brave disciples.
We do not ask you to keep us safe,
but to keep us loyal,
so we may serve Jesus Christ,
who, tempted in every way as we are,
was faithful to you. Amen.
From lack of reverence for truth and beauty;
from a calculating or sentimental mind;
from going along with mean and ugly things:
O God, deliver us.
From cowardice that dares not face truth;
laziness content with half-truth;
or arrogance that thinks we know it all:
O God, deliver us.
From artificial life and worship;
from all that is hollow or insincere:
O God, deliver us.
From trite ideals and cheap pleasures;
from mistaking hard vulgarity for humor:
O God, deliver us.
From being dull, pompous, or rude;
from putting down our neighbors:
O God, deliver us.
From cynicism about others;
from intolerance or cruel indifference:
O God, deliver us.
From being satisfied with things as they are,
in the church or in the world;
from failing to share your indignation about injustice:
O God, deliver us.
From selfishness, self-indulgence, or self-pity:
O God, deliver us.
From token concern for the poor,
for lonely or loveless people;
from confusing faith with good feeling,
or love with wanting to be loved:
O God, deliver us.
For everything in us that may hide your light:
O God, deliver us.
Have mercy on your prodigal children, O God,
and teach us to acknowledge our sinfulness,
so that, in repentance,
we may come to know your forgiveness
which is the fulfillment of our life in your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Trusting in the compassion of God,
let us pray as our Savior taught us:
- The Lord's Prayer
May the God of peace
make us holy in every way
and keep our whole being--
spirit, soul, and body--
free from every fault
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Selah
Almighty God, you alone are good and holy.
Purify our lives and make us brave disciples.
We do not ask you to keep us safe,
but to keep us loyal,
so we may serve Jesus Christ,
who, tempted in every way as we are,
was faithful to you. Amen.
From lack of reverence for truth and beauty;
from a calculating or sentimental mind;
from going along with mean and ugly things:
O God, deliver us.
From cowardice that dares not face truth;
laziness content with half-truth;
or arrogance that thinks we know it all:
O God, deliver us.
From artificial life and worship;
from all that is hollow or insincere:
O God, deliver us.
From trite ideals and cheap pleasures;
from mistaking hard vulgarity for humor:
O God, deliver us.
From being dull, pompous, or rude;
from putting down our neighbors:
O God, deliver us.
From cynicism about others;
from intolerance or cruel indifference:
O God, deliver us.
From being satisfied with things as they are,
in the church or in the world;
from failing to share your indignation about injustice:
O God, deliver us.
From selfishness, self-indulgence, or self-pity:
O God, deliver us.
From token concern for the poor,
for lonely or loveless people;
from confusing faith with good feeling,
or love with wanting to be loved:
O God, deliver us.
For everything in us that may hide your light:
O God, deliver us.
Have mercy on your prodigal children, O God,
and teach us to acknowledge our sinfulness,
so that, in repentance,
we may come to know your forgiveness
which is the fulfillment of our life in your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Trusting in the compassion of God,
let us pray as our Savior taught us:
- The Lord's Prayer
May the God of peace
make us holy in every way
and keep our whole being--
spirit, soul, and body--
free from every fault
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Selah
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The salt of the earth
The Salt of the Earth
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13
by Alan Trafford
Pliny, the Roman historian, once wrote that there is nothing more useful than “salt and sunshine.” It was a play on words. In Latin, salt and sunshine are sale et sole. Nevertheless, Pliny had a point. A home without sunshine would be an unwelcoming place; a table without salt would be equally dreary. Jesus makes the same point. Those who live according to the values of the Kingdom of God, for whom the Beatitudes form a framework for living, must be salt and light in their communities.
We may be surprised to hear this. After all, the attitudes of meekness and mercy, purity and peace, which characterize the Beatitudes, are not normally found in those who set out to change the world. In fact, it is even more surprising that Jesus calls His disciples “the salt of the earth.” Would it not be easier for them to avoid all contamination, to escape from the world instead of trying to change it? It might be easier, but it would not be faithful. This raggle-taggle band of Jewish peasants is charged with making a difference. So are we.
Followers of Christ are to be “salt”.[1] What does this mean? In Jesus’ day, salt had two main uses – to flavor food, and to preserve it. Some commentators suggest that Christians must bring flavor to their communities by encouraging them in good deeds and right living. Christians, it is said, must be activists, bringing out the best in people, initiating meaningful change, speaking out for the poor and the oppressed. This is undoubtedly true, but it is probably not what this text means.
Jesus is saying that it is our responsibility to prevent societal decay, to preserve society by our influence for good. This will not necessarily make us popular, at least in the short term, but it is an essential element in the work of the people of God. Wherever there is cruelty or exploitation, the church must speak out. Wherever folly masquerades as faithfulness, the church must speak out. But we will do this, primarily, by being different, by seeking to be more like Jesus. If we lose that difference, if our saltiness loses its flavor, then we will have failed.
Are we different? Are we really Christlike? Is it obvious that the church is a different society, governed by very different rules, owing ultimate allegiance only to God? Or, are we far too anxious to blend in?
Lord God,
Forgive my easy appeasement of evil,
my accommodation of the things of this world.
Draw me back to Yourself.
Make my discipleship real.
So shall I be salt in this decaying world.
Amen.
[1] Mark 9:50
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13
by Alan Trafford
Pliny, the Roman historian, once wrote that there is nothing more useful than “salt and sunshine.” It was a play on words. In Latin, salt and sunshine are sale et sole. Nevertheless, Pliny had a point. A home without sunshine would be an unwelcoming place; a table without salt would be equally dreary. Jesus makes the same point. Those who live according to the values of the Kingdom of God, for whom the Beatitudes form a framework for living, must be salt and light in their communities.
We may be surprised to hear this. After all, the attitudes of meekness and mercy, purity and peace, which characterize the Beatitudes, are not normally found in those who set out to change the world. In fact, it is even more surprising that Jesus calls His disciples “the salt of the earth.” Would it not be easier for them to avoid all contamination, to escape from the world instead of trying to change it? It might be easier, but it would not be faithful. This raggle-taggle band of Jewish peasants is charged with making a difference. So are we.
Followers of Christ are to be “salt”.[1] What does this mean? In Jesus’ day, salt had two main uses – to flavor food, and to preserve it. Some commentators suggest that Christians must bring flavor to their communities by encouraging them in good deeds and right living. Christians, it is said, must be activists, bringing out the best in people, initiating meaningful change, speaking out for the poor and the oppressed. This is undoubtedly true, but it is probably not what this text means.
Jesus is saying that it is our responsibility to prevent societal decay, to preserve society by our influence for good. This will not necessarily make us popular, at least in the short term, but it is an essential element in the work of the people of God. Wherever there is cruelty or exploitation, the church must speak out. Wherever folly masquerades as faithfulness, the church must speak out. But we will do this, primarily, by being different, by seeking to be more like Jesus. If we lose that difference, if our saltiness loses its flavor, then we will have failed.
Are we different? Are we really Christlike? Is it obvious that the church is a different society, governed by very different rules, owing ultimate allegiance only to God? Or, are we far too anxious to blend in?
Lord God,
Forgive my easy appeasement of evil,
my accommodation of the things of this world.
Draw me back to Yourself.
Make my discipleship real.
So shall I be salt in this decaying world.
Amen.
[1] Mark 9:50
A journey through Lent 2010
Beginning a devotional journey through Lent
Introduction
by Alan Trafford
Come with me, during the weeks of Lent, to sit at the feet of Jesus and to listen, once again, to the timeless treasures of the Sermon on the Mount. Take time out, every day, to find a quiet place where you can read and pray.
This will be the second year that we will have dealt with Jesus’ most famous sermon. Last year, we spent five weeks working our way through the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). Those studies are still available on line, by the way, if you missed them. If you go to you will find them, beginning on February 8, 2009. This year, we complete the journey. It is a spiritual discipline that can only help us.
The Sermon on the Mount is more than a collection of platitudes; it is a manifesto for the Kingdom of God. Jesus deals, authoritatively, with a number of different subjects. Almost all of them have practical application:
By His words, Jesus shows us how Christians are called to create an alternative society, based on different values. The world, He seems to say, is bound to behave badly, because it is under the sway of sin; but this is how you are to live.
One of the key themes of the Sermon on the Mount is obedience. If we listen to His voice, if we allow the Spirit to teach us, and if we subject our will to His, then we do more than engage in Bible Study, we change our world.
May the Lord bless us as we gather around His Word, and as we leave to serve in the name of Christ.
Alan Trafford
First Presbyterian Church
Lent 2010
Introduction
by Alan Trafford
Come with me, during the weeks of Lent, to sit at the feet of Jesus and to listen, once again, to the timeless treasures of the Sermon on the Mount. Take time out, every day, to find a quiet place where you can read and pray.
This will be the second year that we will have dealt with Jesus’ most famous sermon. Last year, we spent five weeks working our way through the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). Those studies are still available on line, by the way, if you missed them. If you go to you will find them, beginning on February 8, 2009. This year, we complete the journey. It is a spiritual discipline that can only help us.
The Sermon on the Mount is more than a collection of platitudes; it is a manifesto for the Kingdom of God. Jesus deals, authoritatively, with a number of different subjects. Almost all of them have practical application:
- What is Christian character?
- What is the place of the Law in the Christian life?
- How can I exhibit the values of the Kingdom in my daily life?
- How should I pray?
- How should I relate to others?
By His words, Jesus shows us how Christians are called to create an alternative society, based on different values. The world, He seems to say, is bound to behave badly, because it is under the sway of sin; but this is how you are to live.
One of the key themes of the Sermon on the Mount is obedience. If we listen to His voice, if we allow the Spirit to teach us, and if we subject our will to His, then we do more than engage in Bible Study, we change our world.
May the Lord bless us as we gather around His Word, and as we leave to serve in the name of Christ.
Alan Trafford
First Presbyterian Church
Lent 2010