Consistent living

Recently I’ve been challenged regarding living consistently as a follower of Jesus. It started with a reading in my devotions. Here’s what Jesus said:

"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 by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16 (New International Version)

Here’s some things that were highlighted for me…

· I am salt and light in this world. This happened through the transformation of my life when I got saved. I am not becoming salt or hoping to be a light, Jesus said I already am, that’s the fact, the starting point. It’s not a future goal.

· My value to the world is in me being what God designed me to be. The people in my community are in need of what I am, salt and light. There’s much to be said about the value of these, but that could be discussed on a different day. For now, let’s just say these two things are at the core of my witness and testimony. Jesus indicates that if I don’t act as salt and light I’m bringing no benefit to the world or His Kingdom.

· Jesus talks about impossibilities. “If the salt loses its saltiness…” Chemists will tell you that salt is sodium and chloride, bound together. You can’t take it apart, it can’t lose its saltiness. So, if it were possible that salt could lose its saltiness you would just throw it out as worthless. People in biblical times sometimes had to throw away “salt” because it was discovered to contain impurities, it was not possible to eat it. He also said it is inconceivable that I would hide my light. Cities can’t be hidden, and the light of Christ in my life cannot be hidden either. Again, pointing out inconsistencies, Jesus says nobody would light a lamp and then cover it up with a bowl.

So, here’s the issue God is challenging me with: When I act in ways that are inconsistent with my new life in Christ my witness is harmed, it brings the validity of what I say I am into question. Jesus said the purpose of my life is to bring light before people so that they may see my good deeds and praise my Father in heaven. But what do people see? If they see me being selfish or inconsiderate the light they see is darkened, the salt they could have tasted is tainted. When I, a professing Christian, damage my witness through poor business ethics or immorality the statement to the lost people in my community is that Christ does not really transform lives. When my temper boils over and my speech is not God-honoring those who observe conclude that becoming a Christian is not life-changing and therefore not worth doing themselves.

So, today my purpose is to live in a way that will bring glory and praise to God. Not to be just neutral. Salt and light are not neutral, they are agents of undeniable change. They create a contrast. Food is either seasoned or it isn’t. The light is either on or it is dark. I want to be the person that cannot be overlooked, an unavoidable force of God’s goodness. With God’s help I am asking Him to eliminate inconsistencies that stand in the way of that witness. My goal is for my life to bring praise to Him!

I’d welcome your comments. Post your thoughts on this.

Be blessed!

Pastor Todd

The God who meets me where I am

From Today's Reading:

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.  Matthew 8:2-3 

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering." 7 Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." 8 The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. Matthew 8:5-8

This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." Matthew 8:17 (New International Version)

When the leper and the centurion called out on Jesus they had real obstacles that stood in the way of receiving what they needed from Jesus.  And they really were desperate.  Leprosy was a death sentence. Paralysis is a horrible condition today, how much more in that day where there was no medical services to help this poor man.

Coming to Jesus was the only hope for these people but seemly impossible circumstances stood in the way.  Jesus was always touching the sick and healing them, but nobody would want to touch a leper.  That act was both repulsive and against Jewish law.  It would render Jesus unclean. So the leper’s question was not “can you make me clean”, but “will you”?  Jesus instant response was “I am willing”!

The centurion faced the hard fact that he was an outsider.  He was a soldier, a leader in Rome’s occupation force.  Jesus was a man of peace. Entering a gentile home would defile Jesus and subject him to criticism from the Jews.  But, Jesus’ unqualified response was “I’ll go to your home and heal him”.  We focus on the centurion’s response which is a great lesson in faith.  But I want to think about our savior and the lengths He will go to reach me.

No matter how repulsive my condition, no matter what roadblocks may exist, Jesus pushes them aside to reach us.  His focus is on our needs; our need for salvations, for healing, for encouragement, for strength.

Matthew sums it up with his quote from Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." Taking them up means Jesus gets personally involved.  It does not say He simply sweeps away our problems.  It says he takes them up and carries them.   His sympathy and empathy is so intense that He chooses to step under the load with us and participate in our weakness and pain.  He touches the outcast, the lowly.  He’s placed himself in the place where He will get soiled scooping me up. He will go where the need is, no matter who it is and where they are.

That’s the savior we have!

God makes me stand

From my reading a couple of weeks ago in 2 Corinthians 1:21,22

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

My Observations:

• God makes me (and others) stand firm in Christ
• God has anointed me
• God owns me
• God has set his Spirit in my heart as His deposit on me
• God guarantees my future

Application:

It seems in my experience I try to "dig deep" within myself to hang on through difficult situations and problems. Yet, today I'm reminded that it is not me that makes me stand. My best efforts; my understanding/insight, and my inner resolve will fail me. Left to myself I will fall and fail. But, I am firm in Christ! The anointing of the Holy Spirit is not just for preaching, healing, etc., but is also for my personal stability and encouragement. God has put a deposit on my life, His promise for what is to come is sure. The more I recognize my inadequacy, the more I can stand on Christ’s overwhelming power.

So, today I am consciously giving to concerns and anxieties about my children, grandchildren, finances, church challenges and future plans over to God. God has all of this under his control. I'm anointed! The future is His, not mine, and the outcome is guaranteed.

My Prayer:

Lord, help me not to slide into self reliance, which is my first instinct. In that, I will be disappointed at the least. Instead, help me trust in your Spirit for my daily living and needs. I thank you that your Spirit living in me is your guarantee of what is to come.

Coming Soon

This is Pastor Todd's blog.  I will soon begin sharing some of the thoughts and words that come to my heart as we walk this incredible journey with our Lord.  Keep posted, I will begin updating soon!