Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Be who you are created to be.  Too many people try to act like and make others think they are people they are not.  Be you and be the real you! That is the journey God places in front of us.  It is not a trick.  He is not hiding our identity or what He says is best for us and our future.  We serve a great and a good God who is for His people. This past Sunday I shared from Matthew 5 about the basics of our faith.  Those basic truths will keep us from drifting from God.  In those verses are some pointed thoughts that help us understand how living out our faith can make a difference in the lives of us. Just be you.  If you do, here is what will happen. Matthew 5:13-16  NLT   “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.  14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15...

I had the opportunity to lead our youth yesterday in Bible study and shared with them from the Beatitudes.  The section of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.  It always leads me back to the place where I am grateful that God guides us with truth and love. So in this e-devotion I give you that portion of Scripture from The Message.  As you read notice that things that stick out to you… Matthew 5 (the Message)  When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: 3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. 4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less....

  Matthew 5:13-16  NLT “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. What are you?  That is a tough question that has so many answers, answers in all different kinds of directions. But the answer that I am looking for comes from the verses above, but this answer or answers comes from other places as well.  We have the ability to impact the world around us as we understand our place and purpose. You are salt. You are light. Salt has lots of purposes.  Some salt can be put on ice, and the ice ...

Be salt and light.   Salt does a lot for food.  In years gone by salt was something that would preserve things.  Salt always adds or brings out flavor in life.  We ought to be doing the same thing for the world as Christians. Light does away with darkness.  Light makes beautiful things come in to view.  All the time light gives us understanding when we have had none.  We ought to do the same thing for the world as we allow God’s light to shine through us. Matthew 5:13-16  NLT “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16...