Verideia students have been learning by heart words of Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount which He long ago proclaimed in Northern Israel on the Korazim Plateau. From what is arguably Jesus’ most famous words we learn what Kingdom Living is all about from our Rabboni (master teacher) in His sermon which speaks to our hearts, hearts laid bear before a thrice holy God. Jesus tells us to be perfect as our Father which is in heaven is perfect. As we recognize our desperate need of a righteousness not our own, we learn that it is only through the resurrection life of Christ that we are enabled to abide by Christ’s Law.

In Jesus’ sermon we learn that His followers are blessed, and persecuted, lights in the world through observance of God’s law/word. As His kingdom builders we have a radical love for others including our enemies and persecutors. As we love as Jesus loved we store up eternal treasure in heaven resting secure in knowing God is with us. God’s Spirit indwells us and Jesus abides with us. Students will spend a couple of months memorizing these famous words of Jesus and could invest a lifetime plumbing their depths while seeking to live them out practically.

As we apply kingdom living in a dark and depraved world, we will be as candles on candlesticks and salt that is salty. We will be trees that bring forth good fruit and thankfully houses that withstand the floods and the winds because our lives are built on a rock of Kingdom obedience.