Sunday, January 2, 2011

Matt. 5:3-16

They're better off, the ones who have been beaten to a crawl,
because in the end, they get God.
They're better off, the ones whose hearts are torn by sharp sorrow,
because they will be held by the King who has suffered.
They're better off, the ones who are gentle,
because this world belongs to them.
They're better off, the ones who hunger and thirst for what is good,
because in the end, they will be full.
They're better off, the ones who show kindness when pain is deserved,
because they will be shown kindness in place of pain.
They're better off, the ones who never turn their gaze from the face of God,
because they get to see Eternal Beauty with their own eyes.
They're better off, the ones who restore broken relationships,
because people will know that God is their Father.
They're better off, the ones who are hunted down and tortured for living like Jesus,
because they are experiencing abundant life.
You're better off when people question your integrity behind your back, even though you're trying your hardest to follow Christ. Get excited and celebrate, because you get to be with God! Anyway, it's proof that you're doing something right, because people who follow God have always been treated like that.
God made you to be salt in this world. But if salt becomes bland, can it be filled with flavor again? It's worthless and will be thrown out in the street, where people will step on it and never even notice.
God made you to be a light in the darkness. You wouldn't build a city on a mountain peak unless you wanted people to see it. And would you light a lamp only to cover it with a blanket? No! You would put it in the darkest room of your house and let it chase away the shadows. In the same way, let God's character shine through you, so that when people look at you, they know what God is like and want to know him for themselves.

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