ARE YOU STRIVING TO BE SALT AND LIGHT TO THE WORLD ?
October 24, 2021
As a Christian, do you ever find yourself wondering if you could be doing more for God and His Kingdom ? My thoughts, emotions, and heart have certainly taken me in that direction lately. As I have gotten older, I realize just how precious a commodity “Time” is. I realize now that it is truly easy to find oneself caught up in patterns where effort, focus, and accomplishments can all be lost if we don’t manage our time diligently. I spend way to much of my time wasting time ! The world offers us so many distractions, and I am realizing that even the things that seem relevant and worthy in the eyes of humanity can be far away from how God would have us use our time and efforts. The things we focus on in many areas are simply satisfaction of the flesh. We do things that make us feel pleasure and personal satisfaction. I have no doubt that God would provide many things for us to be satisfied and joyful. In His Word He never waivers on His absolute Love for us and His desires that we would be Blessed. The question I am asking myself and I am hearing from a lot of people is simply “ What Does God want from Me ?” “ Am I truly doing all the things I could be doing to deepen My Relationship with God ?” “ Am I truly taking the Gospel to others in My daily life and relationships ? “ “ Am I more than just another voice in the noise ? “ “ AM I ACTUALLY A VOICE AND EXAMPLE IN MY IDENTITY AND EFFORT THAT IS TRULY SALT AND LIGHT TO THE WORLD ? “ “ DO I REALLY NEED TO BE ? “
FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND, THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM. Ephesians 2:10
BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION, THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF THE DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT. 1 Peter 2:9
We are not just another group of people following a religion that has a list of things we need to do to become perfect or have a higher consciousness, or become enlightened. WE ARE WHO WE ARE FOR ONE SIMPLE REASON ! JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS AND WAS RESURRECTED TO SIT AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER AND IF WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE SINNERS AND HAVE ACCEPTED THE GIFT OF SALVATION JESUS HAS GIVEN US BY DYING TO SELF AND BEING REBORN INTO A NEW CREATION BY ABIDING IN HIM AND HE IN US, THEN IT IS OUR DUTY AND PURPOSE TO SHARE HIM, HIS GRACE, AND HIS LOVE WITH THE ENTIRE WORLD ! WE HAVE A FOCUS AND A PURPOSE !
YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. BUT IF THE SALT LOSES ITS SALTINESS, HOW CAN IT BE MADE SALTY AGAIN ? IT IS NO LONGER GOOD FOR ANYTHING, EXCEPT TO BE THROWN OUT AND TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT. YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A TOWN BUILT UPON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN. NEITHER DO PEOPLE PUT IT UNDER A BOWL. INSTEAD THEY PUT IT UPON A STAND , AND IT GIVES LIGHT TO EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE. IN THE SAME WAY LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. Matthew 5: 13-16
I feel like the world is so full of completely saltless and dark direction in so many ways today that I can hear people crying out for Truth, and Hope, and Sanity ! Normalcy. Common Sense. Goodness. Civility. Respect. The list would go on and on, but are we truly willing to see that WE ARE NOT TO BE SILENT AND PASSIVE IN THIS MOMENT ? It is time to STAND AND PROCLAIM CHRIST TO THE WORLD ! We need to be the LIGHT and THE SALT ! It seems we are waiting for someone or something to stand up and make a difference. The truth is, WE ARE TO BE THE DIFFERENCE. We can be the light and beacon that shows the people in our lives and those we come in contact with that HOPE and TRUTH, JOY and PEACE are here for our taking. An Eternity of being with our Lord, Savior, and King is OURS ! And most importantly, WE CAN SHOW OTHERS THE PATH TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD !
PUT ON THEN, AS GOD’S CHOSEN ONES, HOLY AND BELOVED, COMPASSIONATE HEARTS, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, MEEKNESS AND PATIENCE. Colossians 3:12
AND TO PUT ON THE NEW SELF, CREATED AFTER THE LIKENESS OF GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS. Ephesians 4:12
If we truly want to be Salt and Light to others, then we truly need to have an intimate knowledge of who Jesus is, and we need to be active in our relationship with Him. It means spending all the time you can reading and studying God’s Word, and being in Prayer. Building your life upon a foundation of Faith and Surrender. Putting God on the Throne of Your Life. Trusting His Will for your Path and Purpose. I AM STRIVING, ARE YOU STRIVING ? IT TAKES WORK. IT COMES WITH STRUGGLES AND WRESTLING. IMPERFECTION AND REPENTANCE. MOST IMPORTANTLY GRACE AND OBEDIENCE ! Our World needs SALT AND LIGHT. MAY WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE IT BY GOD”S GRACE. STRIVING HARDER/JAA
SEEK THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH; SEEK HIS PRESENCE CONTINUOUSLY. 1 Chronicles 16:11