Good day brothers and sisters. It’s the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany. Now that we are believers and Disciples how are we supposed to be in the world? Let’s see what the Smart Book says;
Matthew 5:13-20 Amplified Bible
Disciples and the World
13 “You are the [a]salt of the earth; but if the salt has [b]lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery].
14 “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the [c]Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished. 19 So whoever breaks one of the least [important] of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
We are to preserve both the gospel message and Christian values in the secular world just like salt is a preservative. I remember when President Reagan, a Disciple of Christ, spoke about the USA being that City on a hill. We stood out in the world as a Christian nation. We were a moral nation. God hasn’t changed or done away with His laws. It is our nation that has changed. We were a blessed nation under Presidents Reagan and Trump, but now we are once again a laughing stock of the world. We were seen as a strong nation, but now a weak one.
As Disciples of Christ we must stick with God and His law. We must set the example of what our society should be. We must stand our ground and be a light to a world of darkness. People may think that they are happy in their immoral decaying state, but deep down in their souls they desire the light, so let us be the light and show them God’s love and mercy. May we all be able to enter the kingdom of heaven?
The Lord bless and keep you, His Face shine upon you,
Chaplain Loehne
Good day brothers and sisters. It’s the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany. Now that we are believers and Disciples how are we supposed to be in the world? Let’s see what the Smart Book says;
Matthew 5:13-20 Amplified Bible
Disciples and the World
13 “You are the [a]salt of the earth; but if the salt has [b]lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery].
14 “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the [c]Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished. 19 So whoever breaks one of the least [important] of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
We are to preserve both the gospel message and Christian values in the secular world just like salt is a preservative. I remember when President Reagan, a Disciple of Christ, spoke about the USA being that City on a hill. We stood out in the world as a Christian nation. We were a moral nation. God hasn’t changed or done away with His laws. It is our nation that has changed. We were a blessed nation under Presidents Reagan and Trump, but now we are once again a laughing stock of the world. We were seen as a strong nation, but now a weak one.
As Disciples of Christ we must stick with God and His law. We must set the example of what our society should be. We must stand our ground and be a light to a world of darkness. People may think that they are happy in their immoral decaying state, but deep down in their souls they desire the light, so let us be the light and show them God’s love and mercy. May we all be able to enter the kingdom of heaven?
The Lord bless and keep you, His Face shine upon you,
Chaplain Loehne
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