Building a life
This blog entry marks the first in a ten part series focused on Jesus’ first ever sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus paints two picture of what God’s kingdom is like; one picture shows us what God’s kingdom does in us and the other shows what God’s kingdom does through us. Both pictures that help us to understand what it means to build our life around God.
What God’s Kingdom does in us (Matthew 7:24-27)
Jesus talks about two builders who have several things in common. They both have the same desire to build a house and they both experience the same storm. Yet, what makes them completely different are the foundations they build their house upon; one builds the house on sand and one builds on the rock. What do those two kinds of foundations represent? The rock represents the teachings of Jesus and the sand represents anything else. Our houses (or lives) can crumble or stand strong amidst life’s storms depending on whether you choose to hear and live out the teachings of Jesus.
As we read God’s word (and continue in this ten part series), it’s Jesus’ teachings that we read. Every time we hear, we can choose to lean into his words or turn away from them. When we choose to lean in, our lives are changed and we see what God’s kingdom is doing in us.
What God’s Kingdom does through us (Matthew 5:13-16)
In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus uses two analogies to describe his followers. He says, “you are the salt of the earth,” and “you are the light of the world.” Think about the last word in each of those phrases. This earth that we live in, this world we live in, need salt and light. It needs believers to be different and bold; kingdom workers to share God’s love with people who aren’t part of God’s kingdom.
There is someone out there whose future depends on you living as salt and light. So don’t lose your saltiness. Don’t cover up your light. Allow God to influence the people around you.
N.T Wright once wrote,
Again and again the Sermon on the Mount calls and challenges us to a life of radical discipleship. Note: when Jesus says ‘Blessed are the...merciful, peacemakers’, and so on, he doesn’t just mean that they themselves are blessed. He means that the blessing of God’s kingdom works precisely through those people into the wider world. That is how God’s kingdom comes.
As we live in God’s kingdom, under the lordship of our King, these two things happen. God’s kingdom takes shape in us: we become stable, durable people. And God’s kingdom works through us: the people around us are blessed and are welcomed into God’s kingdom too.
Lord Jesus,
We thank you, that we were able to learn about your first sermon on earth. We pray that throughout the journey of this new series, you lead us into a deeper understanding and conviction, so we can be transformed to be more like You.
In your name we pray,
Amen