Matthew 5:13a, 14a. Ye are the salt of the earth: Ye are the light of the world.
So what’s up this glorious Friday morning in this confusing and anxious summer of 2021 eh friends? With worldwide sickness, strife and turmoil galloping around the planet, I do hope that we are not allowing all that negative stuff to get to us … well not too much, because we are only human and such mind-blowing things will undoubtedly have some negative effect. And then, on top of all that turbulent stuff, here in our fine land of Canada, we now have a Federal Election to look forward to next month, despite it not being officially due for at least another year.
Ah Lord eh! And it seems no one wants an election during the pandemic…that is, except the politicians. Notwithstanding, that the status quo of a minority government seems to have worked quite well during the height of the pandemic. But yuh know, what politicians want, they usually get! And can you imagine all the unnecessary headache we will have to go through to make the elections seem safe and fair.
Thank the Lord though that we don’t have politicians as ignorant and evil as some of those down in the U.S, who insist on spouting lies and disinformation with absolutely no proof to back it up! Thank the Lord for Jesus Christ too, and the Holy Spirit, who give us the wherewithal to handle all these things in a sensible and safe manner! What would we do without our great God Jehovah eh? Just continue going to hell in a handbasket!
Unfortunately though, a lot of people still don’t know Him, and if they do, don’t believe in Him. How sad… For He is the Creator of the universe, and also the Protector and Provider. But if you don’t go to Him and ask for His protection and provision, how will you get it eh? You won’t! But truthfully, some of that blame for so many not knowing and accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour falls squarely on the shoulders of us, His ambassadors, His earthly agents, generally known as Christians.
Why you ask? Because we have not been doing a good enough job to make others want what we have. In other words, we have not been good enough examples of Christ’s wonderful promises and lifestyle to a lost and broken world, living in sin and evil darkness. Yes friends, it boils down to our lack of diligence in doing God’s work. And how is that you again ask?
Listen to these fateful words of Christ to all who choose to follow Him. ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour (flavour), wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.’ (Matt. 5:13) And sorrowfully, I am here to tell us this morning my fellow believers that we Christians, the church of Christ, have indeed lost our salty flavour, through inattention, even disobedience to God’s Word, and following the ways of the evil world too much, seeking too much material possessions and earthly power.
Yes friends, instead of being in the world, but not a part of the world, we have become just like the world, allowing, fear, anxiety, laziness and a lack of enthusiasm to curdle the warm and nourishing milk of Christ that supposedly dwells within us. Therefore, if we are just like the world, it means we can no longer stand up before the world and make a difference. And that’s certainly heartbreaking to Christ!
And Jesus also describes us thus: ‘Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (a lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:14-16) There you have it friends; the command to be shining lights to this dark and evil world!
And as the scholars tell us: ‘5:14-16. Ye are the light of the world describes the essential mission of the Christian to the world. He is the condition (salt) to meet the world’s needs and has a mission (light) to the world. His light is to clearly shine forth into the darkness of human depravity. He is to set his light upon a candlestick, not hide it under a bushel, that is, a basket. Darkness is the absence of light, and darkness alone cannot dispel the light, but the smallest light can dispel the greatest darkness.’
However my fellow saints in Christ, we have unfortunately not been adding salt to the wounds of the world, thus not providing healing nor adding flavour to it. And neither have we been a dazzling light in the darkness of this dark and evil world. We have either been hiding our light under a bushel, through fear and anxiety, or worse yet, been joining the world in its dark and evil deeds. Both situations are highly unsatisfactory my people! But then to further muddy the waters, we get up on our high horses and talk a very good talk, but refuse to walk the walk the talk entails.
Ah friends, to say the least, Christ is very disappointed in us, because if we had put our best foot forward and served Him faithfully, no way would the world be in such an ungodly and sinful state of turmoil that it’s currently in today. But it’s not too late to try and rectify the situation, but we have to begin by going back to God in serious prayer, offering sincere repentance, and pleading for forgiveness. And there’s no better time than right now to do that through our Friday Chant.
Altogether now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and our many other problems are causing. We can’t seem to fix it on our own Lord, that means we desperately need your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets.
So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, and avoid any more serious setbacks. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways.
And please introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And, as with all prayers my people, if we don’t keep the promises we make, we won’t get positive answers. Nuff said! Much LOVE!
…he who has ears to hear…let him hear…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
SCRIP-BITS 