Guiding principles for a truly good life
Daily Scripture
Matthew 5:1-20
“Do Unto Others” campaign
Resurrection’s “Do Unto Others” campaign aims to build bridges, encourage kindness and curiosity and draw us to live Jesus’ “Golden Rule.” Jesus taught that rule in the Sermon on the Mount. This week, after the first sermon in the “Do Unto Others” series, we will read nearly all of Jesus’ “platform.” Daily readings are a bit longer than usual, but we believe you’ll find it valuable to have an overview of the principles Jesus said build the best possible life.
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. 2 He taught them, saying:
3 “Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.
5 “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
6 “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.
7 “Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.
8 “Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
9 “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
10 “Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
11 “Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. 12 Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.
17 “Don’t even begin to think that I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I haven’t come to do away with them but to fulfill them. 18 I say to you very seriously that as long as heaven and earth exist, neither the smallest letter nor even the smallest stroke of a pen will be erased from the Law until everything there becomes a reality. 19 Therefore, whoever ignores one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called the lowest in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps these commands and teaches people to keep them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 I say to you that unless your righteousness is greater than the righteousness of the legal experts and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
The Greek verb translated “taught” in Matthew 5:2 meant “repeated and habitual action,” with the likely meaning being “This is what he used to teach them.” * Jesus would no doubt share ideas like the Sermon on the Mount if asked to address a political convention. In a convention speech, Jesus wouldn’t sound like most politicians. He’d challenge us, as he did the first hearers, to live beyond our differences by choosing to consistently act with kindness and understanding.
- “Blessed” (or “Happy”) “translates a word used frequently in [the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures] to render a Hebrew word meaning ‘Oh the happiness of’…. What [many English] translations do not indicate clearly is that the one doing the good is God.” ** Scholar N. T. Wright said, “Most people think wonderful news consists of success, wealth, long life, victory in battle. Jesus is offering wonderful news for the humble, the poor, the mourners, the peacemakers.” *** Do any of Jesus’ statements lead you to think, “I wish that was true of my life”?
- Jesus praised humility and meekness. These qualities often seem at odds with our culture’s emphasis on boasting and assertiveness. But Jesus said those inner attitudes would make his followers “the salt of the earth… the light of the world.” Too often “religion” brings gloom, criticism and fear. Have you known people whose warm-hearted goodness adds flavor and light to life? How might you purposely bring flavor to bland situations or light up dark corners in people’s lives?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want the kind of joyous blessedness your Kingdom offers me. Shape my heart to value what you value, to rejoice in the quality of life you give. Amen.
GPS Insights
Emily Stirewalt
Emily Stirewalt serves as Resurrection's Silverlink Pastor specializing in pastoral care of elderly adults. She is an ordained Elder in the Missouri Annual Conference and has served since 2007. She is married to Randall, a special education teacher. They have two daughters, Elliott and Marlowe. When Emily is not in a care home sharing communion or with her family on another Kansas City adventure, you can find her curled up on the couch at home binge watching "Friends" or "Golden Girls."
About a month ago, my family and I went to a local Labor Day weekend festival. It did not occur to me that it would be a place with a lot of different political signs and supporters of certain platforms out and about. I realized it quickly as we found ourselves weaving through big crowds and avoiding certain rows of booths that had sign after sign of who they were supporting in the upcoming election.
My spouse and I both felt uncomfortable as tensions seemed high between certain booths and community members. Nothing will remind you of the political climate we currently live in quicker than a local festival two months before an election. It was each party’s attempt at registering voters, giving out yard signs and collecting signatures for petitions. As we navigated this family outing, I soon realized that we had not thought about something else that seemed a bit dire: port-a-potties with toddlers. One of my girls already struggles with public restrooms–the noises scare her and every trip to a bathroom is an experience to say the least.
So, I decided to be brave and march them both towards the row of port-a-potties at the same time. Why not? It went about as well as I expected. If you think about it, this way we have provided restrooms in public places is quite weird, especially to a four-year-old who struggles with being over-stimulated. As I was literally talking her down from running away in the middle of this new experience, I noticed another conversation through the walls (turns out those walls are pretty thin). I quickly realized that there was another mom navigating this same stressful experience as me.
The next thing I know we were both exiting the port-a-potty warzone that we just endured. I noticed that her stroller basket had some signs for her yard in it. They were the exact opposite of the swag we had received from their opponent. And in that moment? It did not matter. We gave each other a huge high five to affirm that we made it out of there as moms. We found common ground in how hard it is to parent little people, and we moved on. In a few weeks, we’ll cast different votes. What an amazing opportunity God gave me in that moment to remember that we are called to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. To support each other. To encourage others when life is hard. This is our calling this election season and always–to follow Jesus.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Matthew—Volume 1, Chapters 1–10 (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, p. 87.
** Barclay M. Newman and Philip C. Stine, A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. New York: United Bible Societies, 1988, p. 107.
*** N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–15. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p. 37.
