Jesus told His disciples, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt was precious in His time—used to preserve food, give flavor, and symbolize purity. In the same way, our faith is meant to preserve what is good in the world and bring out the flavor of God’s truth in our lives. But Jesus also warned: if salt loses its saltiness, it becomes useless, thrown out and trampled underfoot.

The Beatitudes are not random blessings but a spiritual staircase, each one building on the one before. First, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit”—those who recognize their deep need for God. From that humility flows the next: “Blessed are those who mourn”—for as we see our brokenness, we grieve over sin and the pain of a fallen world. Then comes “Blessed are the meek”—a heart made gentle and surrendered because it no longer relies on pride or strength of its own. Step by step, the Lord draws us deeper. What begins as simple words grows into a journey of transformation, revealing a meaning far richer than we first understood.

When God spoke to Jeremiah, He reminded him of something eternal: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” These words show that God’s knowledge and purpose for us reach back before our first breath. Our lives are not accidents; they are woven into God’s design from the very beginning.

When Jesus taught about love, He went beyond what anyone expected. People had been told to love their neighbors but hate their enemies. Yet Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This was radical—He was asking His followers not only to hold back from revenge, but to actively seek the good of those who hurt them.

Jesus reminded the people, “You have heard it said, ‘You shall not murder,’ but I tell you that even anger in your heart makes you liable to judgment.” He showed that sin is deeper than outward actions—it begins in hidden thoughts and resentments. That is why He urged His listeners: if you are bringing a gift to God but remember that someone has something against you, first go and make peace. Reconciliation matters more than ritual. He warned that unresolved conflict is like a prison—you will not be free until every last debt of bitterness is dealt with. For us, this means that unforgiveness locks us inside. God desires not only that we avoid harm, but that we release anger and seek peace, because true worship begins with a heart that is reconciled and free.

When Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me,” He was calling His followers to a life of surrender.