Guarding Hearts: Living as Salt and Light

Devotional

Day 1: Guard Your Heart Diligently

Our hearts are the wellspring of life, and everything we do flows from it. Jesus teaches that sin begins in the heart, and we must be vigilant in guarding it against sinful thoughts and desires. This requires a conscious effort to align our hearts with God's will and to seek His guidance in our daily lives. By being aware of what we allow into our hearts and minds, we can prevent sinful behaviors from taking root. This vigilance is not a one-time effort but a continuous process of self-examination and prayer.

Guarding our hearts means being mindful of the influences around us, whether they come from media, relationships, or even our own thoughts. It involves setting boundaries and making choices that honor God. As we seek to guard our hearts, we should also ask God to reveal any hidden sins or unhealthy desires that may be lurking within us. By doing so, we can take proactive steps to address them and grow in our relationship with Him. [28:05]

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

Reflection: What are some influences in your life that you need to guard your heart against? How can you set boundaries to protect your heart and align it with God's will?

Day 2: Pursue Purity in Thought and Action

Jesus' teaching on adultery extends beyond physical acts to include lustful thoughts. This underscores the importance of purity in both thought and action. We must be mindful of what we allow into our minds and take deliberate steps to avoid situations that could lead to sinful behavior. Purity is not just about avoiding sin but also about actively pursuing righteousness and holiness in every aspect of our lives.

To pursue purity, we need to be intentional about what we consume, whether it's media, conversations, or even our own thoughts. This might mean avoiding certain TV shows, movies, or websites that could lead us into temptation. It also means filling our minds with God's Word and surrounding ourselves with positive influences that encourage us to live a life of purity. By doing so, we can honor God with our thoughts and actions and reflect His holiness to those around us. [52:21]

Philippians 4:8 (ESV): "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to pursue purity in your thoughts and actions? Are there specific influences you need to remove from your life to help you stay pure?

Day 3: Honor the Sanctity of Marriage

Marriage is a divine covenant that reflects our relationship with Christ. Jesus' teachings on divorce remind us of the seriousness of this commitment. While divorce may be permissible in certain circumstances, it should always be approached with the intent to uphold the sanctity and permanence of marriage. Understanding marriage as a reflection of Christ's relationship with the Church helps us appreciate its sacredness and the importance of faithfulness within it.

Honoring the sanctity of marriage involves more than just avoiding divorce; it means actively nurturing and protecting the relationship. This includes open communication, mutual respect, and a commitment to working through challenges together. By viewing marriage as a covenant rather than a contract, we can approach it with the reverence and dedication it deserves. This perspective helps us to prioritize our spouse and seek God's guidance in maintaining a healthy and loving marriage. [01:19:05]

Ephesians 5:31-32 (ESV): "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church."

Reflection: How can you honor the sanctity of marriage in your own relationship or in supporting others? What steps can you take to strengthen and protect your marriage today?

Day 4: Be Faithful with Your Words

Integrity in speech is a hallmark of a Kingdom citizen. Jesus instructs us to let our "yes" be "yes" and our "no" be "no," emphasizing the importance of honesty and reliability in our communication. This builds trust and reflects the character of Christ in our interactions with others. Being faithful with our words means that we are consistent, truthful, and dependable in what we say.

Our words have the power to build up or tear down, to encourage or discourage. By being mindful of our speech, we can use our words to bring life and hope to those around us. This involves not only avoiding lies and deceit but also speaking with kindness and grace. As we strive to be faithful with our words, we should seek God's help in taming our tongues and using our speech to glorify Him. [01:26:46]

James 3:9-10 (ESV): "With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you struggle with being truthful or reliable in your speech? How can you commit to being more faithful with your words today?

Day 5: Live as Salt and Light

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be salt and light in a dark and broken world. This means living out the principles of the Kingdom in our daily lives, influencing those around us with the love and truth of Christ. Whether through our actions, words, or relationships, we have the opportunity to bring hope and healing to a hurting world. Being salt and light involves both preserving what is good and illuminating the truth of God's Word.

Living as salt and light requires intentionality and a willingness to stand out for the sake of the Gospel. It means being a positive influence in our communities, workplaces, and families. By living out our faith authentically and boldly, we can make a difference in the lives of those around us. This calling challenges us to be proactive in sharing God's love and truth, even when it is difficult or counter-cultural. [50:20]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: How can you be salt and light in your community today? What specific actions can you take to influence those around you with the love and truth of Christ?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to worship and hear about the incredible work God is doing through our community and special guests, Epic Onside. We celebrated the success of our recent VBS program, Mystery Island, where children learned about the one true God through various activities. We then turned our attention to Psalm 139, reflecting on God's intimate knowledge of us and His omnipresence. This led us into a deeper exploration of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on the importance of being salt and light in a broken world.

We delved into three challenging areas that Jesus addresses: faithfulness with our hearts, marriages, and words. Jesus emphasizes that sin begins in the heart, and we must guard it diligently. He teaches that adultery starts with lustful intent, highlighting the need for purity in our thoughts. We also discussed the sanctity of marriage, understanding that it is a divine covenant meant to reflect our relationship with Christ. Divorce, while sometimes permissible, should be approached with the gravity it deserves, always aiming to uphold the sanctity of marriage.

Finally, we examined the importance of being truthful and faithful with our words. Jesus instructs us to let our "yes" be "yes" and our "no" be "no," emphasizing the need for integrity in our speech. As we navigate these teachings, we are reminded to guard our hearts, pursue reconciliation, and live out the principles of the Kingdom of God in our daily lives.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Guard Your Heart Diligently: Our hearts are the wellspring of life, and everything we do flows from it. Jesus teaches that sin begins in the heart, and we must be vigilant in guarding it against sinful thoughts and desires. This requires a conscious effort to align our hearts with God's will and to seek His guidance in our daily lives. [28:05]
2. Pursue Purity in Thought and Action: Jesus' teaching on adultery extends beyond physical acts to include lustful thoughts. This underscores the importance of purity in both thought and action. We must be mindful of what we allow into our minds and take deliberate steps to avoid situations that could lead to sinful behavior. [52:21]
3. Honor the Sanctity of Marriage: Marriage is a divine covenant that reflects our relationship with Christ. Jesus' teachings on divorce remind us of the seriousness of this commitment. While divorce may be permissible in certain circumstances, it should always be approached with the intent to uphold the sanctity and permanence of marriage. [79:05]
4. Be Faithful with Your Words: Integrity in speech is a hallmark of a Kingdom citizen. Jesus instructs us to let our "yes" be "yes" and our "no" be "no," emphasizing the importance of honesty and reliability in our communication. This builds trust and reflects the character of Christ in our interactions with others. [86:46]
5. Live as Salt and Light: As followers of Jesus, we are called to be salt and light in a dark and broken world. This means living out the principles of the Kingdom in our daily lives, influencing those around us with the love and truth of Christ. Whether through our actions, words, or relationships, we have the opportunity to bring hope and healing to a hurting world. [50:20]
### [50:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:55] - VBS Testimonies
[28:05] - Reading Psalm 139
[31:15] - Introduction of Epic Onside
[37:20] - Prayer for Epic Onside
[47:45] - Introduction to Sermon on the Mount
[49:12] - The Beatitudes and Kingdom Citizenship
[52:21] - The Call to Reconciliation
[54:38] - Loving Your Enemies
[55:32] - Guarding Your Heart
[60:11] - The Importance of the Source
[61:35] - Adultery Begins in the Heart
[64:42] - The Danger of Lustful Intent
[69:17] - The Example of David and Bathsheba
[72:12] - Radical Steps to Avoid Sin
[78:22] - Faithfulness in Marriage
[86:46] - Faithfulness in Words
[88:15] - Conclusion and Final Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Psalm 139, what are some ways God demonstrates His intimate knowledge of us? ([28:05])
In Matthew 5:27-28, what does Jesus say about the relationship between lustful intent and adultery? ([01:01:35])
What does Proverbs 4:23 instruct us to do with our hearts, and why is this important? ([55:32])
How does Jesus describe the importance of integrity in our speech in Matthew 5:33-37? ([01:26:46])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize that sin begins in the heart, and how does this understanding affect our approach to sin? ([01:02:27])
How does Jesus' teaching on marriage and divorce in Matthew 5:31-32 challenge contemporary views on these topics? ([01:19:05])
What does it mean to be "salt and light" in the context of Jesus' teachings, and how can this metaphor be applied to our daily lives? ([50:20])
How does the concept of guarding our hearts with all vigilance, as mentioned in Proverbs 4:23, relate to the other teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount? ([55:32])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you struggled with sinful thoughts. What steps can you take to guard your heart more diligently in the future? ([55:32])
Jesus teaches that adultery begins with lustful intent. What practical measures can you implement to pursue purity in both thought and action? ([01:01:35])
How can you honor the sanctity of marriage in your own life, whether you are married or single? What actions can you take to support and uphold this divine covenant? ([01:19:05])
Integrity in speech is crucial for a Kingdom citizen. Can you recall a recent situation where you struggled to be truthful? How can you ensure that your "yes" is "yes" and your "no" is "no" in future interactions? ([01:26:46])
Being salt and light means influencing the world around us with the love and truth of Christ. Identify one specific way you can be a positive influence in your community this week. ([50:20])
Think about a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation. What steps can you take to pursue peace and healing in that relationship? ([52:21])
How can you cultivate a habit of regularly examining your heart and thoughts, as David did in Psalm 139:23-24? What practical steps can you take to invite God into this process? ([01:03:14])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "As a follower of Jesus, you and I are salt and light to a dark and dying, hurt and lost, broken world. It's all around us. We saw it in the news yesterday. Every day, today we'll see more news. And we'll acknowledge that this world is hurting, it's broken, it's hopeless. People are searching and we have the message of good news." [50:20] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We need to be careful of that second thought. What are we going to do with that second thought? At what point are we going to say, stop, David, stop thinking this, and go a different direction? I'm very thankful, and well, before I get there, just look what Jesus says next. Okay, this is how serious Jesus is about what he's talking about." [01:11:33] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Be faithful with your heart. Notice what Jesus says. You have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. See what I mean about a tough topic?" [01:01:35] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Let your yes be yes, be truthful, be honest, be faithful with your words. That's the desire of God and his kingdom. Be faithful with your heart. Be faithful with your marriage and be faithful with your words. Keep your heart with all. Diligence. Why? For from it flow the springs of life." [01:28:15] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Marriage is a picture of our relationship with Christ, right? When we love our spouse, we're showing how much that we're showing the relationship between Christ and his church. So for us to even contemplate divorce it goes against the very character the very mission of Christ." [01:23:32] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Reconciliation is woven through. I would say woven through the Christian. DNA. If we are not reconciling, if we are not pursuing reconciliation, reconciliation has to be part, not just of our talk, but of our practice. And that's why he said to them, you have heard it said, you know, don't murder. But then he said, but if you're angry with your brother, if you're angry with someone, you deserve the same judgment." [52:21] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Jesus says, in my kingdom, we are going to love our enemies. No, it doesn't mean that we're not ever going to go to war. There will be a time for war. There will be a time of conflict. But we are to love our enemies, those who misuse us, mistreat us, curse us, spit us, spit at us, and hate us. Jesus says we're to love those people." [53:32] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We believe here at Fellowship that God has instructed us to preach and to teach the entire counsel of God's word, whether we like it or not. And so, so you're in Matthew chapter five. We're going to pick up with verse 27. All right, verse, verse 27. And my primary point here is to be faithful, to be faithful with your heart." [01:00:46] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I firmly believe that God is honored and he is pleased when his people, take those necessary steps to guard their heart for purity. And husbands and wives, at the risk of sounding like Dr. Phil, strengthen your marriage. Pursue your spouse like nothing else. Go after them like you did once and keep doing it." [01:29:29] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Father, there is just too little time this morning to say all that needs to be said. But your word is enough. And we trust your word. How we would have loved to be sitting on that mountainside listening to you and to hear all these counter-cultural, thoughts, kingdom principles that you taught. Then to see you live them out, each one." [01:32:12] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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