Salt and Life- Part 2

I did promise to post this yesterday as a conclusion to my 2-part series on "Salt and Light", but with all that has taken place since my first post I decided to wait and spend the time in prayer for our nation. As I prayed I realize that more so we need to remember that we are called to be light in this world, the light in dark places.

 

Today is a moment of darkness in our country and there are people looking for the light to lead them to a safe place as they stumble around, as you read this piece I pray that you will remove your "bushel" and blow your cover, so others will see your light and find hope.

      light is not simply to allow others to see whatever they wish but it is for others to witness the acts of justice that Jesus' followers perform.  Beyond that, it allows the audience to recognize the cause of these actions, the God of heaven. 

Neither salt nor light exists for themselves. They only fulfill their purpose when used, poured out.

The “bushel” Jesus mentions here is not a unit of measurement, rather, Jesus refers to a vessel big enough to cover a lamp. He describes a light not snuffed out but covered up. The light is not extinguished. It is rendered ineffective.

 This morning let’s think about the bushels that cover your ministry’s light. What are they? Maybe the bushel is an inferiority complex, a lack of confidence that comes from comparing ourselves to others ministry. Or perhaps the bushel is self-absorption, all about three people- me myself and I- that is a bushel that prevents our light from shining.

Perhaps the bushel is a fantasy in our head. Jesus gives the central insight that lights don’t magically end up underneath bushels. The only way for our light to be covered is if we put a bushel over it. “No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel” (verse 15). We are not victims inevitably doomed to being distracted and drained by the bushels of inferiority or self-absorption or fantasy. Bushels can only block out the light when we put them there.

Unfortunately, for some of us and for some of our churches our bushels become our very identity. Not only do we put the bushels over our light, we cling to them for dear life, unwilling to let them go. This light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). So “let your light shine before others” (verse 16).

 In His Service,

Vilma

Salt and light

At the church that I attend- we have been talking a lot about us being the “salt and Light” that Jesus calls us to be.  We find this reference in Mathew 5: 13-16. If you are able to read the entire chapter that would be good but if not just read those few verses and allow God to minister to you.

Let me share with you a few thoughts on the subject. I will do this in 2 parts today and tomorrow. Today I will concentrate on salt and tomorrow I will expound on light.

In this passage Mathew 5:13-16, Jesus is talking about a life that makes a difference for others in the world. Jesus uses simple everyday things so that those he taught could relate to what he was saying. I just love that about Him.

Salt is a very common element it is in every home, however it’s only valuable when it is applied on other things.  Sitting on the shelf or the table renders it useless. In other words salt exist for other things not for itself.

As the followers of Jesus we are called to exist for others. We are called to add flavor to tasteless situations and circumstances. If we refuse to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to bring hope to those who are hopeless and to bring comfort to those in distress, then we are “good for nothing” except to be discarded.

If you leave salt sitting on the counter for a while it starts to get moist and then it becomes brown around the edges, it becomes unattractive. Nobody wants to use it and it gets thrown out. What a waste!

Examine yourself and your activities at home, work, in the grocery store, the shopping mall or in a conversation with your neighbor- are you adding value? Do your words bring hope, joy and peace or do they create helplessness, sadness or confusion? You decide!

In His Service,

Vilma

Our Father which art in Heaven

Have you ever been out somewhere and hear somebody say, Mom and whether you had your child with you are not, or whether the voice you heard sounds like your child, you automatically turn your head to the sound.  It is a case of “I can’t help it” Something within you is stirred making you wanting to respond to that privileged title.  On the other hand that child who called knows they are calling not every mother but just to one particular mother – theirs.

When we pray the bible teaches us in the model prayer to start out by acknowledging who we are talking to -“our father”.  This shows a relationship with the person, whose attention you are trying to get.  We are relating to Him as a loving, caring and compassionate parent, not as a Judge of what we have done wrong.  We are also acknowledging the position of a child- His child. Other fathers may turn their head, but will quickly realize which father you are calling.

 Father is also that privileged title that demonstrates a privileged relationship with a person.  If we can respond the way we do when we hear the word mom or dad, how do you think God will respond to us when we call to Him?  Here is what I think- I believe His ears perk up and his attitude is one of attention and readiness, waiting to hear what we want.  I do believe His bowels of compassion, grace and Mercy are put in motion ready at a moment’s notice.

The remainder of this phrase “which art in Heaven” further identifies the person we are calling out to.  It says to others that although He is a loving Father He is also a Holy God.  The next time your hear mom or dad- think of that relationship you also have with your father in Heaven.

In His Service,

Vilma

God has no grandchildren

We are all God’s creation.  As much as we like to boast on our natural born children as "our production", we were really only the vessel that God used to house them. Yes we do have a part to play, but the ultimate knitting together of every muscle, sinew, bone and ultimate breath is through God’s intervention.

Unfortunately although we are all God’s creation, we are not all His children. This is a very hard thing to accept by many, but as is with “truth” it is not always pleasant to our ears. To become one of His children we must be born again, that is accept Jesus as our Savior.  This means that our wonderful, beautiful children also need to go through the same process to also become children of God.  There is no exception.  They do not automatically become a grandchild because we their parents are children of God.  God has no grandchildren. 

As parents we leave a will with an inheritance for our children, guess what, and so does our father- God.  He has left a ton of inheritance for all His children, known to us as blessings.  God's will cannot be contested in the courts as we know can happen with some earthly wills.  The other good news is that the inheritance will never run out. Every child is entitled to every one of the blessings God has left in His will for them. No one child regardless of age, race, status or educational background is entitled to a bigger portion than the next child.

Do you want your children to become eligible for this inheritance?  Well then let us start by praying for our unsaved children’s salvation which is the gateway to this inheritance.

 Today I want us to pray for the Salvation of our children and that they will not be hindered from coming to Him.  Matthew 19:13–15 tells us: Children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray.  The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”  And he laid his hands on them and blessed them.

In His Service,

Vilma

Thursday 's devotion

https://www.periscope.tv/w/ajEjYTFheVFWdnZEV29sUXB8MXlOR2FSelJCakRKajblUYl3PTkAFtLfaGDwM3ZWSbZeOSvuu_AlwVWd8-j0

Thursday's devotion-Psalm 23

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aifo7zFheVFWdnZEV29sUXB8MVlxS0RsZ3BMUmVLVhp60hVdZNKieSty1Nz3aKKrz_z5kJfxruso38eCmprL

Psalm 1

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aiVGUjFheVFWdnZEV29sUXB8MWxQS3FsbVZBcVd4Yum-6slWkoHJVD08_4d33ZdVcv4wesCaEp9hWys6Kchd