Matthew
5:13-20—A More Excellent Way of Life – The Christian life exceeds living by the
Law
The
Christian life exceeds living by the Law. Followers of Jesus, Disciples of
Christ are the light of the world. Since Jesus said He was the light of the
world, this may seem to be a contradiction. Christians are light. You do not
become light by good works. You are light because, and only because you are in
Christ, the Light. The light you have is not produced by your own. You are only
the reflection of the light of Christ who dwells in you by faith. If you are
not seen as light in the dark world, it indicates you are not in Christ. If the
light is in you, it will be seen by your good works, which result as naturally
as a candle sheds its light as a natural part of its essence.
As
salt and light, Jesus’ followers live by a superior righteousness.
The word ‘righteousness’ has a twofold meaning. Its ethical meaning embraces virtue, goodness, and unrighteousness. The religious meaning means being rightly related to God and neighbor. The righteousness of God is God’s rightly relating us to him. The righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees was an ethical righteousness, which involved a strict keeping of the letter of the law. The Christian has a righteousness that exceeds the ethical. It is a right relation with God and with the neighbor. Anger is a symptom of a broken relationship. Forgiveness renews this relationship.
O God, you know
that we cannot withstand the dangers, which surround us. Strengthen us in body
and spirit so that with your help, we may be able to overcome the weakness that
our sins have brought upon us.[2]
Collect
for Friday of the week of Epiphany 4: Bestow on us, O
God, all that Thou dost ask of us, that in asking life of Thee we may be ready
to share Thy life, and the weight of it, which is Thy love in Christ Jesus. [3]
-03 February
[2] Epiphany Collect, Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3] Collect for Friday of the week of Epiphany 4, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1005 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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