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Bible Reading Plan

Reading Plan: Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light

“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 underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people 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. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

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Daily Devotional: Sharks

Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:7  

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:4

I met a gentleman who partners in a business in Florida that takes people snorkeling to observe sharks. He described, with humor, the biggest problem he faces in leading these tours: his participants let go of an important rope out of fear when they see sharks, even though his main instruction is to hold on tight. He explained that a rope is attached to the back of the boat because there is a strong current, and he instructs the participants to hold onto the rope securely. He drives his point home by saying, “If you let go, you will be swept away and quite possibly end up in Cuba.” All they have to do is look in the water, breathe, and hang on. Each time they inevitably let go, he chases them down as often as needed. When they hold onto the line, they are safe, can observe wonderful sea creatures, and are part of something bigger. To achieve this, they simply need to obey and remain. This situation is a perfect illustration of our life with Jesus. 

Today’s scripture says, “Blessed are the merciful.” Most human beings are not naturally merciful. We can see this vividly in toddlers. They hit, push, and grab toys from other toddlers, and adults need to instruct them in mercy. Jesus instructs us in mercy through his life on earth. To internalize this mercy and demonstrate it is another matter. You see, mercy is a heart state that reflects God’s compassionate nature. It is two-fold and requires action. We are merciful when we help people in need and forgive those who offend us. Holding a grudge and failing to be generous reflect a heart state incompatible with following Jesus.

To achieve this heart state and reflect God’s compassionate nature, we need to “remain in Jesus.” To do this, we stay tethered to his word, his people, and his church. If we are reading and discussing the Bible, we remain in His heart-state. We reflect His compassionate nature if we remain connected to like-minded people who instruct and challenge us. If we let go because we see proverbial sharks in the water, we actually end up far away from safety and growth. We demonstrate mercy when we are filled with God’s mercy ourselves. We act mercifully when we feel safe, secure, and sheltered in our connection to the heavenly Father. Then we can experience the second part of the beatitude, “be shown mercy.” From this protected spot, we can be bold and adventurous and actually enjoy the creator’s miracle of sharks! 

Next Steps

Do you let go of the vine that tethers you to God when life is overwhelming? Reach out.

Do you know someone who needs to be brought back to the vine? Go get ’em!!