Keep Open House
For Meditation (Corey Widmer)
This fall we have been studying the Beatitudes, the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount. We will be starting into the main body of the Sermon in January. But in between those two sections is this hinge section, 5:13–15. We’ll spend two weeks on this wonderful and very famous section of verses.
Next Sunday we will dive more deeply into the two key metaphors Jesus employs in this teaching: salt and light. But this Sunday, we'll focus on verse 15: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” The Message translation takes a creative approach: “Shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
As we move back into our building, this is the perfect word for our community. Keep open house. Jesus reminds us that we exist for the sake of our neighbors, to be open wide to those around us. As we relish in our renovated space this Sunday, Jesus also calls us to open our hearts and hands to the neighbors, community and city around us, that people might in turn open up to God. We'll explore what this might look like for us this Sunday.
As you prepare for worship, consider the following:
Why do you think Eugene Peterson translated these verses, “Keep open house?” How does that relate to shining our light to others?
What would it mean for us to keep open house this season with our building? With our households and homes?
Who do you know that God might be inviting to experience His generosity? Take some time to pray for them now.
Matthew 5:13–15 (The Message)
13 “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.