Matthew 5

Wow, reading this passage closely really got me to thinking. I have read the sermon on the mount many times and can recite it back pretty closely to how it is written. I haven't spent as much time reading chapter 5 beyond that. There really are a lot of things in there that are convicting and things that I have known that I need to work on. Melissa and I have talked about how going through the Bible will be a challenge and how it will really bring on a lot of convictions. This chapter did it for me.

The chapter for me is broken down into quite a few different sections, I will go through with my individual thoughts for each of those sections.

Salt and light -
I sing "This little light of mine" with the girls a few times each week. I like holding their hands up when I sing it as if they are actually holding their lights up. They love it and I love watching their faces while I am playing with them. These words go beyond just the singing of the song and saying that we have a light. Verse 16 "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven," is one that shows ultimately let your light of how you praise God and what you do for Him be seen by all others. I always like to do things for people to help them out. I like to be a positive roll model. I like to make decisions that make others think that I am a good guy. I want to always make these decisions so that people see that I am a Christian and that the life they see is one that they would want to emulate and be more like because of knowing that it is my commitment to Christ that makes me do what I do. Unfortunately, I do these things selfishly at times. Not always, but plenty of times. I want people to really think that I am a good guy because I want the recognition for personal gain. This has been a struggle in the past and will continue to be one. I know this is something I need to work on.

The section on adultery was pretty convicting as well. In college, my small group looked at this section specifically and talked about how in our day and age it is difficult to get by this one without additional help. I will say that I have improved since looking at this passage and seeing the world with different eyes. I try to divert my eyes during racey commericals and while checking out at the store, but I still find myself catching a glance at some of these images. I am constantly in prayer over this issue because it is not a safe or comfortable thing for me to go through each day. I struggle and know that these images will always be around. I know that God will deliver me from these problems and help me to get by eventually. I know I can't ask God to just fix it. I need to work toward fixing myself as well.

The last section that really stood out to me is the one that dealt with how to treat enemies. I know that there is the love your neighbor, that is easy, but the people I don't like is so much harder. I am glad that we had the section in Bill Hybel's book that talked about how to pray for these people. I need to remember that often it is my problem that I need to get by. Without a real change in my outlook, things can not be changed.

Ultimately, I would like to continue to have convicting passages like this each day because without really looking at the problems in my life I will not have the changes in my life that I would like to experience.