If we want peace we have to lead by example.

 Reflection based on Matthew 5.13-16

In Matthew 5:13-16: Jesus talks of people being like salt and being lights in the world. In other words, being good example to others and putting the teachings of Jesus into practice. The following passages in Matthew 5 are on ethical conduct. We all need to read these regularly.

At first sight these may appear to be strange items to use in his illustration. Why salt? Salt serves mainly to give flavour and to preserve. Disciples, if they are true to their calling, can only do this if they preserve their distinctive character. Strictly pure salt cannot lose it salinity, but impure salt dug from the shores of the Dead Sea could gradually become un-salty as the actual sodium chloride dissolved.

Light like salt, affects its environment by being distinctive. The disciple who is visibly differs from the other people will influence them. But the aim of their life and witness is not to parade their own virtue, but to direct attention to God who inspired them.  The disciple will give light to all. (Philippians. 2:15) This is why Jesus is often referred to as the light of the World. A secret disciple is no more use in the world than one who has lost his distinctiveness. In earlier Jewish thought God was generally seen as the Father of Israel rather than of individuals, though this phrase was coming into use by the first century AD in the sense he is the father of all.

Some illustrations of what it means to be a modern disciple.

One of the characteristics of the world in which we live is the lowering of standards. Standards of honesty, diligence in work, conscientiousness, and moral standards, all tend to be lowered. The Christian must be the person who holds up the standards of absolute purity in speech, in conduct and even in thought. No Christian should depart from the standard of strict honesty, can think lightly of the lowering of moral standards. In a world where the streets of every town there is an enticement to sin. Disciples must face the challenge to their principles as they go about their daily lives. 

The moral codes that Christian should apply to their daily lives must also be applied to the business deals with clients and employees. There are some companies that are good, while there are others where standards are low in the treatment of employees and honesty in trading. The good company is where people work to prevent corruption and make it easier for others to be good. Christians should not only be visible within the Church, because the Christian way of life does not stop at the church door but reflects into the world in which they live and work. It’s also how they treat people in shops, restaurant, play games, drive their car, behave in the workplace, the schoolroom and golf course. Lights can be used as a guide they can also be used as a warning. When we see that something is wrong highlight the issues and encourage people to change their ways or right a wrong.

The list above hopefully will help you to see how in our everyday life we can make a difference, a friendly smile and being kind to others will help create a better world. While there are people who find it hard to love others, those who follow the teachings of Jesus need to lead by example. The Christian Church must work to heal the pain of past actions of some of the people in it. This would help to create a more caring world. We can help organisations working for Peace and support action of the groups seeking to end conflict and help the people of violence to learn that it is only through love can we solve our differences. We all should hope that the world will come to be a place of peace where weapons of war are turned into ploughshares and it safe for people to walk the streets.

Popular posts from this blog

Why do people believe in Ghosts but not God?

  People are happy to use clairvoyants, watch ghost hunters which highlight the supernatural, but cannot bring themselves to accept there is a supernatural being working for the good of all. Some people expect God to perform miracles when things go wrong and protect us from the evil in the World. But there is evil in the world which often seeks to harm us. Do we acknowledge that God is beside us when we are ill, guiding the doctors to cure us? Do we humble ourselves and accept that the way God want us to do things is not the way we want to do things? People get upset or refuse to do it God’s way because they think they know better; this usually results in them getting deeper into trouble. Humility is a difficult thing for most human beings, but it is important in acknowledging God and accepting his guidance in the things we do. The term Spiritual Power or Protection can easily be misunderstood. Most people associate it with mystics, spiritualism, or some psychic power. Most of th...
Read more

Love not war.

  A reflection based on Isaiah 2.1-5, John 15.9-17   It is the wish of most people that power hungry human beings would learn to love and not engage in war. The first Isaiah, saw a time when Judah and Jerusalem and other nations would come together and live-in peace. Many people will be familiar with Micah 4:1-5 which is part of a group of passages on the promise of the coming of God’s kingdom, frequently heard at Christmas but many may not be aware there are similarities within Isaiah chapters 2 where he sees swords being turned into ploughshares.   The image in this passage of people beating swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks was written figuratively some two and half thousand years ago, it is still the dream of all peace-loving people and has come to symbolize disarmament. It is a hope of all who want to live in peace. This means that those who wish to walk the walk of peace-making will use their energy and imagination to help nations to bring d...
Read more

Creating a caring society.

Creating a caring society is at the heart of Christian teaching. We believe that we should all work to bring an end to poverty, homelessness, all people should have access to health care and education. In Acts 2:43-47 we are told that the disciple of Jesus met regularly after his ascension as they prepared to fulfil the commission, he gave them. They shared their food and resource and made sure nobody went hunger or was homeless. Mary knew she was blessed expressing this in a song, which is in Luke chapter 1:46-55, after her meeting with Elizabeth. Mary’s song also echoes the song of Hannah in 1 Samuel. The interrelationship between God’s plan for John and Jesus, already intimated by the careful parallelizing  between the two announcements. They receive concrete expression in this account of the meeting of the two pregnant mothers. The formal parallel between the two infant narratives is maintained: each mother is supernaturally aware of the other’s condition. Both women, while...
Read more