“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5: 13-16 (The Message)
Do you regularly read the same Bible translation? Or do you switch up what translation you’re reading?
Often, I will read different translations to get a fuller understanding of what the underlying concept is. I love The Message paraphrase – while it’s not at all a direct word for word translation, it addresses the concept and themes of Scripture in a modern language. What I love about that, is it takes familiar verses – even ones that I’ve had memorized since childhood – and sheds new light on them.
Take Jesus’ words of His famous Sermon on the Mount and watch as the Spirit stirs new encouragement to our souls and sparks motivation to take action.
Defining our purpose: You’re here to be light.
Commanding us not to be silent: God is not a secret to be kept.
Always be ready to share the Hope that you have: Keep open house. Being generous with your lives – by opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up to God their Father.
Each of us brings out the God-flavours of this earth…the God-colours in the world. We are the representation of Who our Creator is…. How beautiful is that?! Whatever your day looks like for you…or whatever you have to tackle… you’re taking with you the Light that is meant to change the world. Purpose in every day… in every moment! What a generous God to allow us to shine for Him!
Comments