Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Each Friday for quite a while Anna Ruth prepares a luscious meal for David, Alan, Paul, Dwayne and us, of course.  Last night she laid out in a very neat fashion silverware, etc. for the meal today.  I found it very touching!   The silver handles seem so welcoming.  “Pick me up.”

At the time of Christ, the Jews were arguing about how best to please God.  Different parties had different ideas.  The Pharisees emphasized complete and literal obedience to the Law of Moses as it came down through the ages.  The Sadducees spiritualized the Law to a large degree and emphasized being good people.

Jesus paid little regard to their defenses.  For example, a lively issue was murder.  Jesus did not concentrate on murder but on anger.  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.  5:22  

Another issue was adultery.  Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  5:27, 28  Jesus was not interested in rules governing adultery but the root cause of adultery that left no one guiltless.

On divorce, the debate had to do with how to deal with divorce.  Jesus was quite clear.  Just do not do it!

On swearing oaths, he said, But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all.  All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.  5:34 – 37  Again, Jesus undercut all current argument by uncovering the evils of the heart.  He did not propose a new set of rules.

On rules of retribution, Jesus spoke, again, of a deeper truth. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”  This sounds ridiculous for those who are not born again.  Human nature cries out, “revenge.”

The Jews debated who were their enemies and how should enemies be treated. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”  5:43. 44  Love your enemies?  Now, what can be more impossible than that?

Jesus examined what was in the heart.  That is what matters, then and always.

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

Matthew 5:14 – 16

I grew up singing a Sunday School song, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”  We went through the motions – putting a bowl over the light and pulling it away so that the light can shine brightly. That little song stuck in my memory, and it is still there.  I had no idea what I was singing but came to know later.

First, when we are born anew by the Spirit of God by the cleansing of the Blood of Jesus then a light appears in us and wants to shine, shine, shine.  That is how the world is made aware of hope.  We find ourselves like a town built on a hill top, for all to see.  We know the light that shines is in fact the light of Jesus in us. We have no intrinsic light.  It is Jesus in us.

Then, do not let anything hinder that shining, nothing!  We live in a dark world and that world will try to dowse that light. Be careful to walk in the light of God that the light will shine in all its glory.  God is the light, our responsibility is to make sure nothing hinders the glory of that light.

Finally, our new life in Christ will result in good deeds, helping others, and so on.  Those good deeds are the direct result of the new light that burns within us, a light that never fades, but burns brightly until the day of our leaving the earth.  Doing good reminds people that we are simply doing what the Spirit of God is doing in us. All good works point to God, not to us.  We just do what Jesus does in us.

What a life!  Let us shine with the glow of God.  So all will see what God is like.

Our flame bushes were dazzling beautiful as their dark green leaves turned red – stunning red.  This picture is not as dramatic but as purposeful.  The seed remains in delicate clusters on slim stems.  They promise new life when the warmth of Spring appears.

“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.

Matthew 5:13

I still remember using salt, lots of it, to preserve meat for my students in Tanzania 60 or so years ago.  That was before refrigerators were used much in that country.  Every few weeks I took a few students along and drove the 20 or so miles to shoot a variety of animals.  Always great fun.  They skinned and butchered the game, then cut the meat into long thin strips, covered them with salt and draped the strips over a fire where they, after several hours, dried.  Then the meat would keep for several weeks.  The students loved it.

I found that two things were needed to preserve fresh meat – salt and prolonged heat.  I was amazed how simple was the process.

Salt was the secret.  We used coarse local salt that was found here and there, waiting to be dug up.  Salt did something to the meat, including giving it a very delicious flavor.  I suppose salt was used similarly at the time of Christ.  I never heard of salt losing its essential qualities, the basic of which was the power to preserve.  Jesus may have come across crystals that got bleached of saltiness so they could preserve nothing and were essentially tasteless.  The tasteless crystals had no use.

Jesus warned his listeners about being salty once but no longer.  I understand that we who have been born again of the Spirit of Christ are obviously salty!  Then, some fall back into the world – lose their saltiness.  That is a bad place.  May I have my saltiness renewed every day!  That is why I am alive!  I am God’s salt, doing its work. What good am I to God and my fellows if I am no longer salty with the transforming salt of God?

I was surprised when I saw that we have a late blooming dark iris.  It is November 16 today.  Hope it blooms before getting hit by a frost.  I think we are safe.  What a lovely Fall up to now.

Let us review what Jesus taught about his kingdom, surprising teaching!

These are the nine “Blessed’s” that Jesus taught.  I paraphrase them and add the opposite – the world’s way of looking at life.  They are my thoughts.

The poor in spirit inherit the Kingdom.  The haughty get earthly goods but are lonely.

Those who mourn will be comforted in the Kingdom. The full depend on self, not God.

The meek, the powerless, will inherit the earth.  The strong will use their power for self.  

Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be fed.  The full go away empty.

Those who offer mercy will receive mercy.  The powerful see no need to receive mercy.

Those whose hearts are pure in motive will see God.  Evil people do not want to see God.

Those who are peaceful and who seek to make peace are God’s children.  Selfish people divide in order to enrich themselves.

Those who are right with God will be persecuted but that is the nature of the Kingdom.   Those who know not God will do all they can to avoid suffering of any kind.

Those who are persecuted and insulted because they are obeying God will certainly rejoice and be glad. In fact, they will receive their reward, not on earth, but in heaven where Christ reigns.  Those who have no desire to please God will receive earthly rewards, not heavenly rewards.

Do I think the thoughts of Jesus or the thoughts of this world that fill the earth?  We who are in the Kingdom of Christ by cleansing and calling, do well to sit at the feet of Jesus to learn the mysteries of the Kingdom. Let us ever learn.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12

Honestly, I like it when I am praised and rewarded for doing good. That suits my nature.  But, just a minute!  Jesus says, in effect, that if I am a true follower of his I should know that by loving Him I can expect persecution and false accusations.  That does not sound like a good thing to my natural man. Right. But I must remember that Jesus Christ lives in me by faith so I can expect that because he lives in me and shapes me, I will also suffer as He did.

Then Jesus turns to an amazing fact; because we participate in the sufferings of Christ we will rejoice and be glad because we are receiving our reward in heaven.  Then he comforts us with the realization that through the ages, those who walked with God suffered persecution.  That was common to them all.  He assures us that our common suffering results in our common joy.

I need to resist the temptation to think that walking with Jesus is the way to avoid suffering.  Jesus himself reminds us that if we walk with him we will suffer, but the reward is nothing less than exuberant joy and gladness.

I need this sure word today, as do we all.  May it guide us every step of the way.