Morning Devotional 070625 Live Life Boldly

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

July 6, 2025

Matthew 5:13-16

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.

Good Morning! Arise, Shine, Glorify God!

How people describe you is a direct reflection of how you live your life. In the movie My Big, Fat Greek Wedding, I recall the father of the bride describing the parents of his daughter’s fiancé as "Milquetoast." Ian’s parents were quiet, unassertive, and led a lifestyle that could be described as bland. Whereas, Toula’s family did everything big, with gusto, and without regard to what others called proper. i.e., They roasted lamb on a spit in the front yard. 

How does this compare to what we consider living a proper “holy” life? Does Jesus call us to a quiet, unassertive, bland life? NO! We are to spice things up with the saltiness placed within us. We are to unabashedly let our light shine so the world knows that we are children of God. 

Somewhere, Christians lost sight of these ideas as we worked to become proper. John Wesley started forming groups to “worship” God because he saw those attending worship as sleepy and uninvolved. Jesus calls us to action to stir the pot of what others see as living a good life. 

We are to love big and serve big in a world that is filled with those who know not Jesus. 

Giving Lord, you bless us abundantly! Help us to accept our calling to be Christ to a world that lives in darkness. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: God is calling us to be the salt and light of the world!

Shine your light boldly!! Pastor Liz