Daily Journal: 22 February

Blessed with Salt and Light

The Beatitudes was Jesus’ first sermon and He explained the Kingdom of God is not like any other kingdom.

God's Kingdom is a kingdom that serves. It is a kingdom of people who receive from God and then give to others. It is a kingdom ruled by a just and holy King where His people are watched over with righteousness rather than oppression, provided for with justice rather than taken from by corruption. It is not a kingdom full of self-seekers but God-seekers.

To be a God-seeker we first understand His Spiritual nature. We are made in His image but been corrupted in the soul. We need to be changed back into His likeness in our spirit and our soul. This is what being a God-seeker is all about.

God’s kingdom, whose citizens are 100 percent committed to the King, has values that don’t make sense in any other society. But all kingdoms exist to serve a king.

Matthew 5:3-10 (NIV)

The Beatitudes

He said: ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The only way we can live in this kingdom and be satisfied is to receive the spirit of His Kingship in our lives; receiving a heart to be salt and light to those around us because we have experienced what that means.

For us to be salt to others, we need to experience and understand the brining process in our own lives.

For us to be light to others, we will have experienced darkness and understand the need for God’s light in our own lives.

In being blessed with salt and light we ourselves are called to be salt and light.

Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)

Salt and Light

¹³ “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 underfoot. ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.