The Salt of the Earth, Part 2

Jesus says that believers are “salt to the world” (Matthew 5:13 NEB). Our very presence halts corruption . . . and preserves society. Salt is also a healing agent. And it creates a thirst. It adds flavor.

The Salt of the Earth, Part 1

Ever smelled old, rotten meat? Remember forgetting for several weeks something you put in the refrigerator? There is an odor that accompanies decay that’s like nothing else.

The Influence of a Servant

Ours is a tough, rugged, wicked world. Aggression, rebellion, violence, cutthroat competition, and retaliation abound. . . . What is true in the secret council chambers of nations is also true behind closed doors of homes.

The Keeper of the Spring

The late Peter Marshall, an eloquent speaker and for several years the chaplain of the United States Senate, used to love to tell the story of “The Keeper of the Spring,”1 a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village.

Jesus’ Portrait of a Servant

Shortly before her death in February 1971, my mother did an oil painting for me. It has become a silent “friend” of mine, a mute yet eloquent expression of my calling. It is a picture of a shepherd with his sheep.

Spurgeon’s Channel of Encouragement

Charles Haddon Spurgeon remains one of the most colorful and gifted preachers in the history of the church. Any man who loves to preach and desires to cultivate the art and skill of communication must study Spurgeon.

I Know a Peacemaker

A man I have admired for decades, the man who taught me Hebrew in seminary many years ago, is Dr. Bruce Waltke. He is not only a Semitic scholar par-excellence, he is a gracious servant of our Lord.

The Peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” . . . Interestingly, this is the only time in all the New Testament that the Greek term translated “peacemakers” appears. Maybe it will help us understand the meaning by pointing out first what it does not mean.

Masks

Let me urge you today to become, as Jesus said, “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8). Think about what it would mean, what changes you would have to make, what habits you’d have to break.

The Pure in Heart

When Jesus spoke of being “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8), He emphasized the inner person . . . the motive . . . the “heart.” The phrase does not refer simply to doing the right things but doing the right things for the right reason.

Tag Archives: Matthew