What is your salt and light doing today? Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light

13 “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.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  (NIV)

As a part of our Lenten observance this year, on Wednesday nights we are watching the video series by John Ortberg entitled, "Who is this Man?" which is based upon the book by the same name. Together we have looked at the powerful influence that Jesus has had over our culture and our world.  It chronicles the impact of Christians and the Christian movement which has literally transformed our care for the poor and needy, marginalized, sick, women, and children; raising each to a new state of compassion which previously just didn't exist in the world before Christ.  In a world where only the kings were thought to be created in their gods image, Jesus says that we're all created in God's image, and then he goes about loving people in a way that demonstrates that he really believes it!  Yes, Jesus brought light into dark reaches that had never seen light before and praise God there have been countless Christians who have taken up that same torch. 

Just think of compassion and forgiveness.  They were His idea, a reflection of His heart.  Jesus brought these to a world that taught people to love their friends and hate their enemies.  Jesus was truly a radical in a hateful and selfish world filled with pride... and he continues to do the same today through us.  Perhaps this is what we need to think about during these last days of Lent leading up to Easter.  Lent is a time of introspection and devotion to Christ. Perhaps Lent can be like a mechanic doing a tune up on our car.  Now don't ask me all that they are doing under the hood! I'm just glad I trust my mechanic to do it right.  But as Christians we need to check our life, our heart, and our motives. 
 

Today I want to ask, "How is your salt preserving and your light shining?" According to Jesus if Salt loses its saltiness it should be thrown out and light should not be hidden but raised up for all to see.   So what is your salt and light doing in the world?  Have you ever considered that as Christians we are literally the most powerful source of transformation and compassion in the world?  Sadly, we get so focused on our own little world that sometimes we forget who we really are.

Today why don't you inspect what's on the inside and think of just one way you can let it out into the lives around you today.

For Jesus said, "......Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) May the revolutionary love of Christ spring forth from us for God's praise and glory today.  Amen

The perfect atonement for sins. Isaiah 6:1-8

Isaiah 6:1-8

6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ³ And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
    the whole earth is full of his glory.”

⁴ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

⁵ “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”


 As Christians we have entered into the season of Lent.  This is a time of prayer.  It's a time of sacrifice, a time of confession, a time of service, and a time to renew our faith in Jesus.  At its best I believe it is a time to strive to experience what Isaiah experienced during his time of worship.  The parallels with this passage and Lent are very striking indeed.  In Lent we bring ourselves in worship to try to grasp the breadth of whom God is which is exactly what Isaiah is confronted with in the temple.  His encounter is so overwhelming that it brings him to his Knees in repentance much like the repentance that we seek during this special season of the year.   It is during the season of Lent that we are aware of our sins and the sins of our world which would lead Jesus to the cross.

There is one last parallel that I found in this passage which I had never seen before.  I find in both passages God's desire to forgive and atone for our sins.  In the old testament the coals of fire reminds us of the sacrifices and the burnt offerings provided each day for the payment of sins.  However in Lent we remember that it is Jesus who served as the once and for all perfect sacrifice.  The angels said to Isaiah "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."  As Christians we know that the perfect atonement comes from Jesus who takes away the sins of the world.

If you look through the old testament you will see that each page points to Jesus and as Jesus himself would say that he came to fulfill the Law.

As we enter into this season of Lent may we contemplate our sins and the sins of our world.  May we seek to have a fresh encounter with Christ.  Whether you sacrifice something as a reminder of your sins or add on additional practices as a sign of your devotion, never forget that His glory continues to fill our universe.  And the same power that shook the doorposts and thresholds of the temple at the times of Isaiah, is the same power that caused the earthquake at Jesus death and caused the veil that covered the Holy of Holies to tear in half..    It's also the same power that Caused Jesus to raise from the grave.  Its also the same power available to all of us who believe through the Holy Spirit.  That my friends is awe inspiring.   May it also inspire us to say..."Here I am send me" when the spirit calls our name.