Tuesday, June 21, 2016

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:1-2

Begin by focusing on the “dwelling place” – the sanctuary God has established in your heart. Thank him for being faithful to meet you there by his Spirit – and ask him to cause you to long more and more for this daily time with him.

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 by men.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16

A number of years ago I had the privilege of traveling to Turkey on FBCG’s first short term team to the land where the Apostle Paul established some of the earliest Christian churches. Toward the end of our trip we journeyed into the mountainous eastern part of the country to visit the ruins of two ancient churches. After a long and somewhat treacherous drive up steep mountain roads we were amazed at the magnificent architecture of these cathedrals built in the 9th and 10th centuries. One could still see the huge marble pillars, vaulted ceilings of the sanctuaries, and the domes that rose over 50 feet from the floor. To construct such places of worship in such remote locations would be an astonishing feat of engineering today – let alone over one thousand years ago! It was moving to think of the people so long ago that dedicated these places of worship to the glory and God and the supremacy of Christ!

But, the truth is, these once magnificent cathedrals are now in ruins. Worship has not taken place nor has the gospel been preached in these villages in 500 years. The ruins are a relic of a vibrant past – but today they are empty shells, piles of dead stones.

Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount by describing the attitudes and values that mark the lives of his disciples: poor in spirit, meek, merciful, peacemakers, pure in heart, hungry and thirsty for righteousness…etc. Now he begins to envision the impact that his followers – his church - will have upon the world.

He uses two common but very valuable elements from the ancient world – salt and light - as metaphors that we will flesh out as the week goes on. But the sense of these verses is that, from the very beginning, Jesus wanted his followers to make a difference in the world. When Jesus envisioned the worshiping community that would be his church – he did not imagine a gutted and empty ancient building that serves more as a museum than anything else. He did not imagine a building where people go once a week to sing a few songs and listen to an uplifting sermon. He did not imagine a building at all. Jesus imagined a movement of people who, because of his influence in their lives, would, in turn, influence the world.

Take a few moments to reflect on your own life and your view of the church. Have you thought of yourself as called by Jesus to make a difference in your world? Have you thought of the church as a place to go on Sunday – or as a movement that you are part of? Ask the Lord to challenge your understanding of both yourself and your church through his word.

Brian Coffey