Being in the world

The Sermon on the Mount: A Message for Jesus’ Disciples- Part 1

Most of us have heard numerous messages on The Sermon on the Mount. Emphasis tends to be placed on the beatitudes (“Blessed are…”) and debates arise about whether it’s “blessed are the poor” or “blessed are the poor in spirit.” Jesus’ words have been picked apart, analyzed, and a number of complicated interpretations have been given. But one important factor that is often overlooked is Jesus’ audience. Who is He speaking to?

Jesus is speaking to His own disciples. And not just the chosen Twelve, but others who were following Jesus at this point in His ministry. So why is understanding the audience important? I think it’s important for three reasons. First, Jesus’ words are instructions for how His disciples should be living. They are to be the lights of the world, and their righteousness needs to be different than that of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. In essence, they need to be different from the world. Second, these instructions are important for teaching the future church. These teachings carry on long after Jesus’ death and resurrection as is evident in many of the letters to the churches. Third, because these are instructions for all of Jesus’ disciples, they also apply to Christians today. With the audience established, let’s take a look at the content.

Some people want to argue that Jesus is changing the Law with His message. I disagree. I think we forget that Jesus is God. He understands the contents and purpose of the Law better than anyone. The Law is not just about rules and regulations. It’s about motive. Why was King Saul’s kingdom taken away because he offered sacrifices (1 Sam. 13)? Sacrifices were required of the Lord according to the Law, but Saul was instructed to wait for Samuel. Samuel was supposed to offer the sacrifices, but Saul was impatient. First Samuel 15 demonstrates further that the Lord delights more in obedience than sacrifice (v. 22). Saul’s motives were wrong in both 1 Sam. 13 and 15, and he paid heavy consequences for his sin. Jesus is teaching the same thing.

For example, in Matt. 5:21-24 Jesus talks about how being angry with one’s brother is the same as committing murder. One who stays angry is guilty of sin. Jesus instructs that a person who has such anger in his or her heart should not give an offering to the Lord until he or she is first reconciled to the other person. The act of giving an offering to the Lord is a good thing, but the Lord does not desire an offering given with sin in our lives. We must make things right.

Think about this for a moment. Do we consider where we are spiritually when we give an offering to God? Are we harboring anger, bitterness, malice, etc. towards another person as we drop the envelope in the offering plate? If so, are we willing to wait to give our offering until we make things right? Just think about how much more united the church would be if we actually worked out our issues with one another.

The same thing goes for the adultery teaching (Matt. 5:27-28). It’s not just the act of adultery that is sinful, but lusting after another person. In this way, the argument of “I never touched her” or “I never touched him” doesn’t carry any weight. Sin is sin. But thank the Lord for His mercy and forgiveness. As disciples there is much to live by, but we also have access to the only One who can wash away our sins.

Another important message for Jesus’ disciples is to interact with people who are of the world (Matt. 5:43-48). Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Talk to non-Christians. Jesus called out the Pharisees and teachers of the Law because they studied the Law, had access to the truth, were taught by Jesus Himself, and still rejected Him. They followed their own devices and interpretations instead of God. Some people in the world do the same thing even when the truth is presented to them, but I believe that most of the world does not know or understand the truth. That’s why we are the light. I love what Jesus prays to the Father in John 17:14-21 (NASB):

“I have given them (the disciples) Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (Bold print for emphasis)

We are supposed to be in the world. That is why we are to be salt and light. That is why we’re supposed to be different. We need to be more than separate buildings lined up on the same block, yet all too often the church looks like the world with a veneer of light.

We must shine for God’s glory! It is becoming increasingly evident that the world needs Christ. Everything that is happening in the world is like a powder keg ready to blow. It is more important than ever to ask ourselves the following: Who will we be? What will we teach? How will we live? Who will we follow? How bright is our light?

The path of a disciple is not easy, but it is always worth it for the sake of Christ.

 

©Lauren Heiligenthal

Psalm 73

Appearances can be deceiving. People may seem to have it all together. Their fame and fortune may be desired. But to whom does their soul belong?

I was reading Psalm 73 last night, and its message seems quite applicable for today. Sometimes it is easy to forget that those who are of the world will lose everything in the end. They are not to be idolized nor are we to be jealous of them. Rather, we are to remember our hope in Christ and pray that they will understand and receive the gracious salvation we have accepted. May we come to the same conclusions as Asaph:

Psalm 73

“1 Surely God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps had almost slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pains in their death,
And their body is fat.
5 They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like mankind.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
The garment of violence covers them.
7 Their eye bulges from fatness;
The imaginations of their heart run riot.
8 They mock and wickedly speak of oppression;
They speak from on high.
9 They have set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue parades through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return to this place,
And waters of abundance are drunk by them.
11 They say, ‘How does God know?
And is there knowledge with the Most High?’
12 Behold, these are the wicked;
And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
And washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I have been stricken all day long
And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’
Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.
16 When I pondered to understand this,
It was troublesome in my sight
17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!
20 Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.

21 When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within,
22 Then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 With Your counsel You will guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works.” (NASB)

We all struggle with being in the world and not getting caught up in it. Our cultures tell us what we should think, how we should act. When we think that these are the standards that the Lord desires we are being “senseless” and “ignorant” like beasts as Asaph writes in vv. 21-22. The truth is found in vv. 25-28. We are either faithful to the Lord or not. Two options. Nothing more, nothing less. If we are children of God, He is our refuge and strength. He is always faithful even when people are faithless (2 Tim. 2:13). It is Christ who is our hope, not the wickedness of the world. May we remember what He has done in our lives and choose to be faithful until the end (Heb. 3:6).

©Lauren Heiligenthal

Truly Blessed

Last year I was praying about finding the right kind of job, and the Lord provided. Not only has He given me the opportunity to earn some money, but He’s put me in a position to be a light if I choose to be. Being in school for six years I was surrounded by a Christian bubble, not really being in the world. Focusing on my studies, the only interaction with the world was when I had to go shopping for food or other items. I have been blessed by being around Christians, but I never expected to feel even more blessed by being in the world. Let me explain.

I’ve been blind to what hopelessness looks like. I’ve been a Christian for the majority of my life, and even though I’ve had struggles, I could always turn to the Lord. I’ve shared in posts how I’ve struggled with pessimism, and I’ve tried to make every effort (with much prayer) to think more positively, to be a light. I’m thankful that I didn’t get a job until I was improving in this area because many people around me are negative. But this is now my opportunity to be the positive one. Being in the world has helped me to realize that there is no reason to be negative because I have hope! I have Christ! It dawned on me the other day as I was writing that I can’t imagine who I’d be if I didn’t have Christ. All the struggles that I’ve worked on as a Christian would not be worked out. I’ve seen how people try to wrestle with issues on their own. There’s much bitterness, anger, negativity…hopelessness.

I get it now why Jesus came to save the spiritually sick. The religious people should have known better (i.e. Pharisees and teachers of the law). We should know better. I know that if I act like some of my co-workers there would be no distinction between me and them. I understand why Jesus loves them, why He died for them. They need hope. They need life. They need real love. This is when the church steps in. We are the body of Christ. We should reflect these things. We should be different, not to make ourselves look better, but to bring hope. There is no place for haughtiness in the body of Christ. The world is a crazy place, no doubt, but people don’t know any better unless we tell them. More importantly, unless we show them.

I am truly blessed to be a follower of Christ! He has saved me from myself so that I can be a light to the world. What a precious gift.

~~~

How Great You Are

 

©Lauren Heiligenthal