From Matthew:

When Studying about our God within the pages of Scripture we often run up upon and see ourselves on those pages in a way that is rather convicting. That’s ok for the Holy Spirit within us is at times finds it necessary to be convicting us of a need for change. So we often see the man that God envisioned when He created us. When we meet these men head on in the word we begin to encounter several differing emotions. There is often the feeling of being unworthy to achieve.

The beatitudes have for me been similar to more than a couple of the beatings and teachings that I had received as a child. Not only were they deserved but they made me abruptly and acutely aware of my weaknesses, and of my inability to be a doer of what is good, and pleasing to the adults who were in my life. With the beatitudes, Scripture points out to me almost every time that I read them just how far from the goal I am for being all that God created me to be. Fortunately now having experienced Christ I am learning that that unworthiness is only represented in the flesh and in who I was without Christ in me, then I had no commitment to Him. But we, who know Him, are called to experience Him daily and we (in Him) operate in His strength. It is when we strive on our own that we are reminded of our own deprivation and of our need to renew that commitment to put Him first and to remain in that place wherein He can complete His work in us.

The beatitudes display to us, just what God desires of those He calls to be men and women of God. They basically are owning who they are and selflessly putting Jesus and those for whom He died above themselves in order to be salt and light to the world around.

Salt when it is placed on food is seasoning and preservative. When it is put on a wound it has certain healing properties (epsom salt and saline nose spray are examples), but salt when applied to a wound also stings the wound as it heals. It properly works if it has retained its saltiness.

Light on the other hand drives out darkness and it reveals what is actually there. Jesus says here that our light shines to reveal to others our good works, but in other Scriptures we learn that our human condition is depraved and thus our good works are not ours but His. Light reveals what was before hidden or covered over not only in us but in the hearers of our words. If our words are His words they are bearing fruit which can only be given us by Him. Jesus is the way the truth and the light. There is no light within us to be given without Him. He then reveals the truth of the moment. If we have these HIs properties when dealing with the reality of sin and the wounds afflicted by it for those around us even as it has been dealt with in our own lives; then we are to expect to actually experience what the verse highlighted above points out to us that is to be reflected in our life.

It is certainly not that we should want or desire these persecutions as a badge, but it is fact that they are the natural outcropping for one who is salt and light as Jesus here reveals. Jesus was persecuted as the light revealing truth to the world around Him. So as He reveals the reasons that He came for these around us through us. A purpose which was not to cover over the truth of sin and the cure for that which destroys man but instead to offer His healing and purpose to those who are no longer hiding their sin from Him in the darkness.

His hope is our hope: that all men are to be yielding both their sin and their lives to Him that He might destroy that sin from their lives and make of them useful vessels for His own service.

The truth expressed here in His light is that there are always some, who because they love their sin, will make Matthew 5:11b true, and will “… insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me. (GOD’S WORD)

Jesus merely reveals to us here why we may be hated for loving others enough to shed light on their condition and use salt for their healing. A healing for which He has suffered and died. And Jesus wants us to know that it is not us but Him that they reject in us when these things happen.

Over the years I have often avoided using the saltiness of the Gospel fearing that if I used it that it might bring some pain. And I have also similarly thought it best not to turn the light on when sin is involved for it might expose and embarrass. But salt and light is what brought us to Him. It also is a natural outcropping from our life when we are in Christ Jesus. It is never us personally when we are seemingly doing God’s work, but it is His Spirit working through us His own will. It is Jesus not others, who will determine your ministry. If you are in Him you are to never be ashamed, nor are you ever to be proud of what is done through you, whether it produces healing or otherwise persecution.