Place for the salt is in the casserole

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house” (Matthew 5:13,14)

“You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Revelation 2:4,5)

What are we thinking about as Christians? Do we remember how we were when we first came to Christ? Do we remember our testimony of a life lost in sin, hopeless and helpless, until we turned to Him in repentance and faith? Because that’s how we all were, and it’s only our faith in Jesus that makes us have hope. Do we remember the joy and love and gratitude we felt when we knew we had the change to a different life, where we would know the undeserved blessings of God?

We have salvation. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit. We have the Bible. We have direct access to God through prayer. We have the fellowship of other Christians.

And we have the great commission, Jesus’ words before His ascension:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19,20).

Whatever culture we experience in this world, we are surrounded by people who are lost. They may not know the reality of heaven and hell. They may not believe in God or the devil. They depend upon whatever values the popular culture of the time and place dictate.

Where is the heart of compassion for these lost ones? How will they see God?

Jesus said:

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34,35).

Christians can be so harsh in judgement on the world. As a pastor I know says: “You can’t expect non-Christians to behave like Christians.” They don’t know Christ, or His teachings or values. But we should expect Christians to be trying their utmost to follow Christ’s teachings and to bring His redemptive love to save the lost.

The Bible was written for God’s people. The admonitions to the churches in the New Testament were for God’s people. The church filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 was so powerful that three thousand people were converted in one day. God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, is still capable of that anointing. Yet in Paul’s epistles we see the church struggling with false doctrine, immorality, ego problems, disunity and believers falling away. Today we still see the same things happening and Jesus surely mourns:

“Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37)

We have been given so much, and much is expected of us. This is challenging and frightening, but it is also a promise of the most meaningful, love-filled relationship that we can possibly know in our lives.

“Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord made it clear why the nation of Israel existed. They had been created by God Himself to serve as His agents of redemption to the rest of the world. .....

...God, through His Son Jesus Christ, is still in the business of creating a special kingdom of people for Himself. It’s known as the church. But our purpose is not to celebrate our favoured status as believers. We should be about the task of helping others come to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour.” – George W. Knight, “The Names of God” Barbour Publishing Inc. 2009 p.20.

As Christians may it be our resolve this year to not just grow ever more closer to God in deep relationship, but also to pray for our unsaved family, friends, workmates, neighbours and others with whom we are in contact, and may we reach out in God’s love in whatever ways we are enabled to be a witness and bear fruit for God’s kingdom.