Sermon on the Mount

This past Sunday we explored the idea of holiness and how a central theme of the Bible is God’s pursuit of His people in setting them apart. John Stott writes in his book The Message of the Sermon on the Mount,

“[T]he essential theme of the whole Bible from beginning to end is that God’s historical purpose is to call out a people for himself; that this people is a ‘holy’ people, set apart from the world to belong to him and to obey him; and that its vocation is to be true to its identity, that is, to be ‘holy’ or ‘different’ in all its outlook of behavior (Stott, 17).”

God has purchased a people for His own possession as Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:9. In fact, he reminds His readers that they are a holy nation or–to state it clearly–a set apart people group. But Peter doesn’t leave it there. Rather, he goes on to demonstrate to his readers that this setting apart is for a purpose. He writes, “That you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” God’s people are set apart to proclaim the truth of who God is and what He has done.

If we’re pursuing holiness, the world will see our priorities as out of whack. It will look at us and wonder why we’re doing things the way we’re doing them. Unfortunately, we often take our cues from the world too quickly when we need to be taking our cues from God’s Word.

As those who identify with Buffalo City Church, we seek to align our priorities with God’s Word and not with the world. Our holiness, being set apart, is good for our city, Jamestown, ND.

Here’s what that means:

If we’re taking our cues from the world, we will invest our time and energy elsewhere. We will spend our weekends 100 miles east or west in Fargo or Bismarck because they have more to offer. In doing so, the energy that could boost the ethos of our own city is spent elsewhere.

If we take our cues from God’s Word, we will “seek the welfare of the city (Jeremiah 29:7).” Despite being in exile in Jeremiah 29, God speaks to His people telling them to “build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce (29:5).” Invest in where you live; don’t spend that time or energy elsewhere or wishing you were some other place. We, like Israel in Jeremiah 29, are a people who exist in an environment we only temporarily inhabit. But the command is clear: invest where you are now. Be content in the current place God has you. Our community should benefit greatly from the presence and activity of Christ followers. The flourishing of Jamestown should be our aim; we shouldn’t be rushing to get out as quickly as we can when summer approaches on the calendar.

Here’s the rub: it may look stupid to invest our time and energy here. Let’s call it like we see it. I walk down the main drag with my kids and I have to maneuver the stroller around vomit on the sidewalk outside certain establishments. There aren’t a lot of good restaurants. There aren’t a lot of things to do in general. Why would we seek the good of a city that can offer us so little in return?

In short, because our goal isn’t to “get something.” Instead, our goal is the faithful pursuit of holiness. We’re working out what it means to be set apart. We’re working out the intended result of holiness: “proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

It is our sinful nature that wants return on investment in the here and now. But faithful obedience to seek the welfare of the city looks for no such return.

Our holiness is good for Jamestown.