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