Salt and light

[Matthew 5:13-16; Luke 14:34-35]

Israel Houghton says in his song “Identity,” “One of the things plaguing our generation is people trying to figure out who they are. … We bear the name of our Father, and in Him we find our identity.”

That’s what comes to mind when I read this passage. We sing songs declaring Jesus to be the light of the world, which He was, but He calls us the light in verse 14. What an honor, a privilege, and responsibility. It is crucial in this world to know who we are, and to Whom we belong. When we forget who we are in Christ, we lose sight of our purpose. Many women lose their identity because they take on the attributes that others notice. We must remember that only God has the perfect perspective. He is so far above us that He cannot be slighted or biased. At the same time, He knows us so intimately that He can say with confidence who we are.

So look into the mirror today and tell yourself, “I am the salt of the earth. I am the light of the world. I am who Jesus says I am.”

It might be a little difficult if you do not understand what Jesus means by this. In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis offers that salt and light share the purpose of exposing other tastes/sights. Someone who has never tasted salt before would not believe us that it can be used to bring out the flavors in other foods. They would think it much too strong. Similarly, a world in darkness, having seen light for the first time, would not believe that through it we can see other things. They would figure that its effect would be too blinding. But we know the truth, because have been exposed to salt and light. And if the world were to be exposed to our salt, to our light, then they too would know the truth. We, in doing what we were innately created to do, draw others to Christ.

If we forget our purpose, then we are “good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” But if we complete our purpose, then our works will shine before men, and they will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. This is not a time to sit idly and wait for just one chance to honor God. Every second given to us is a gift from God, and an opportunity to praise God through our works and to testify to the world. Do not waste time on wondering who you are. You are the salt. You are the light. Ask God to show you how to be used for His glory.

God bless,

Alisha

Beattitudes & Woes

[Matthew 5:3-12; Luke 6:20-26]

Verse one of Matthew 5 sets up the scene for probably the greatest mind-boggling speech in history. Jesus saw the crowd, recognized their desire to learn, and more importantly, saw the need to correct. One of the characteristics I love about Jesus is how He was able to see things so very differently from us. He saw the world from God’s perspective. This wasn’t only because He is the Son of God. It was His prayer life that brought Him this viewpoint.

Prayer gave Jesus the assurance that when He was poor in spirit, mourning, hungering/thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, making peace, and persecuted, He was indeed blessed. It also gave Him the assurance that when anyone else felt any of the above, he too was blessed. Jesus saw trials as testimonies in the making, as a way to bless others and in process be blessed Himself.

Luke shows us the other side of the story. Woes to the “haves” because they will lose what they have. Woe to those who trust in anything besides God(emotions, materialism, popularity), because they will be sorely disappointed. This is certainly not what the world teaches us. Pursuing our own happiness leaves us temporarily on a high, as opposed to the pure, unadulterated joy that comes ONLY from fellowship with the Creator. Prayer helps encourage that fellowship, as does reading the Bible and doing His will daily. Spend time today with God and see things from His vantage point.

God bless,
Alisha