Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 October 2018 Matthew 5:13a &14a.

27 Oct 2018 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matthew 5:13a & 14a.    ​Ye are the salt of the earth…Ye are the light of the world…

So now it’s Saturday…. But don’t quote me on that nuh! (smile) Oh isn’t it nice when you don’t have to know what day of the week it really is, and they can just freely flow into each other, and all you’re concerned about is whether it’s night or day?  I’m certainly enjoying it! 

And I finally got home from Kingston around 8.pm last night, after a long and unsatisfying four hour bus ride. The youngster driving figured he was handling a toy bus, just twirling away round the corners. However, on arrival in Mo Bay, some good goat belly soup at a family member’s yard, revived my sagging energy and spirit, (smile) then I came home and just rested quietly. 

But on a more serious note, here is a prayer that I found in my mother’s Bible after she died, and I’ve shared it before, but I’ve been moved to share it again today. It’s simple but all-encompassing, and it has become one of my favourites over the last few years. Please pray with me: ‘The light of God surrounds me. The LOVE of God enfolds me. The power of God protects me. The presence of God watches over me. Wherever I am, God is… And ALL is WELL!’ 

Oh friends, if all those things are true, then ALL must be WELL with us! And if you’re a true believer in Christ, then all those things ARE true, so you can draw the logical conclusion. But since it’s Saturday, we need to turn to some of the quotes our friend Anselm sent us this past week, as he aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. 

Hear this first one: ‘Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet.’ And is that ever true! Only you, and you alone can truly make your life sweet…Sorry, I forgot to say in conjunction with Jesus, because if He is not in your life, then try as you want, your life will NEVER be truly sweet. Jesus is the key, the honey that sweetens life! 

And this next quote complements that last one. ‘The truth is you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed.’ No my brethren, we certainly don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, and though life’s not always a crazy ride, for sure nothing is guaranteed, except salvation and eternal life if Jesus dwells sincerely in your soul. 

Then there’s: ‘I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.’ Oh isn’t life truly complex! But the best way to live it is with an optimistic outlook. As they say, hope for the best, but come what may. That’s all we can do, though with Jesus as the guiding light of our life lots of sunshine will surely filter in to it. 

And this next quote tells us: ‘Life doesn’t require that we be the best, only that we try our best.’ Gospel truth my fellow believers! Our Lord and Saviour knows that we are not perfect specimens, and knows our weaknesses better than us, so He doesn’t expect perfection, just that we try to be diligent and excellent representatives of His, by always putting our best foot forward. 

And finally the last quote: ‘Positive thinking is more than just a tagline. It changes the way we behave. And I firmly believe that when I am positive, it not only makes me better, but it also makes those around me better.’ And that’s more gospel truth friends! Positive, Christ-like thinking is the best way to live this earthly life. And when you do so, obviously some of your good attitude will rub off on others. 

That’s what Jesus is all about. That’s why He highlighted our Bit in the Sermon on the Mount: ‘Ye are the salt of the earth…Ye are the light of the world…’ Yes my fellow believers, when we behave like salt and light, then we exude the properties of Jesus. And we can’t hope to be Christ-like, raised from glory to glory, unless we give off the same properties. 

We need to be worthy citizens of our society, involved in worthwhile causes, setting a good example, shining our lights, so that others can see the true way, that hard to find hidden path that leads through Jesus to the Father. But unfortunately I don’t think that we’re really doing our best in that respect, else the world would not have been overtaken by the evil enemy and his evil cohorts.  

If we were showing up our salty flavour and shining our bright light in the darkness of this evil world, Jesus’ LOVE Revolution would have had the upper hand on the world stage by now! But since we apparently have lost our salty, tasty flavour, we don’t seem to be good for anything now, and are just being trampled underfoot. 

It’s the same thing with our light. It seems like we’re hiding it under a bushel or basket, and no light’s getting out to those around us. Remember what Jesus said: ‘A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.’ (Matt.5:14b-15) 

Oh friends, I know some of us are tired of hearing this sermon, but we need to hear it until we get it right! The evil enemy is running away with the world, and we are the only ones who can take it back. So let’s get serious and become true ambassadors of Christ nuh, and truly exemplify the diligence and excellence He expects of us, by making His wish come true. ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:16) 

That, in a nutshell is our earthly job my people. Please, I implore us, let’s go out and do it nuh, so that Jesus and the Father can be glorified. Much LOVE!

…salt and light…the major qualifications for a Jesus ambassadorship…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 May 2016 Matthew 5:13-14

28 May 2016 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 Matthew 5:13 -14    Ye are the salt of the earth… Ye are the light of the world…

Ah friends it’s Saturday morning once again. What plans do we have in store for this memorable day eh? Note, every day in our lives is a memorable one because we have been granted only so many and thus we need to make the most of each one, for we don’t know how many more we’ll see, if any. 

As they say, yesterday’s gone, today is here, and no one knows about tomorrow. So the only thing we really ever have is TODAY! That means we have to use it wisely. And to help us do that, here are two quotes from our friend Anselm, who always aspires to inspire us.  

The first quote says: ‘Face your fear. Procrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the “someday I’ll” philosophy.’ 

And there is much truth to that friends. A lot of us are afraid of success, for whatever reason, and therefore don’t put out all the God-given talent that we have at the time when it will make the most difference. I’ve noticed it in a few associates over the years. They were people just brimming over with talent in their particular field, but they just refused to hunker down and make a real success of it, always seeking the easiest way out. 

And the next quote from Anselm tells us: ‘Finish it.  Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.’ 

Now that one I can personally testify to my brethren, as no doubt a lot of you can. Nothing is as discombobulating and frustrating as an unfinished task. It keeps bugging you to finish it, but you keep putting it off until the last minute, when it’s either too late or you don’t do a good job on it. 

So the moral of the story it to just get on with whatever you have to do; don’t procrastinate, don’t put it off for another day or time… unless you’re very sure that the Lord has told you to leave it for later. (smile) 

And having said all of that we come to a rather appropriate Bit to support those contentions in the life of the Christian believer. ‘Ye are the salt of the earth…ye are the light of the world…’ 

That’s paraphrasing Jesus words after He declared the Beatitudes. Now let’s hear them in their entirety. ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour (flavour), wherewith (by what) shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand); and it giveth light to 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.5:13-16)  

There we have it my fellow believers; the basic essence of how our Christian faith and beliefs ought to play out in this fearful and ungodly world! 

Now hear the scholars on those verses: ‘5:13. The Beatitudes are followed by a summary statement of the basic character of the Christian’s life as salt and light. Ye are the salt of the earth: Again the phrase “ye are” indicates that only the genuinely born again person is salt and can help meet the needs of the world. Salt adds flavouring, acts as a preservative, melts coldness, and heals wounds. Thus it is a very appropriate description of the believer in his relationship to the world in which he lives.’ 

And the scholars continue: ‘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 he 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.’ 

And all of God’s people declared a loud ‘Amen’ to that, because it is indisputable, scientifically proven truth! Light always has mastery over darkness, that’s why our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ wants us to be lights in this world of immense darkness.  

And a good analogy of that would be the old lighthouses that you found on so many rocky promontories years aback; they were there to light the way for the sea traveller enveloped so completely by the darkness of the night on the broad expanse of water. That’s how we are supposed to be my people; like lighthouses beaming the light of Christ into this ever darkening world. 

Now that’s our mission, but don’t forget our condition: to be the salt of the earth, to add flavour, healing, help and basically meet the needs of our fellow man. Unfortunately though, too many of us supposed believers are hiding our lights under a bushel, and we have lost all of our saltiness, that’s why our world is in such a mess. 

Friends, we need to be out there meeting needs and showing the way like Jesus did. It’s what He’s expecting of us. Remember, unless we lead the way, His LOVE Revolution will never become successful. His hope for future glory is very dependent on us His supposed followers. We are His foot soldiers, paving the way and saying like John the Baptist did in Jesus’ time. ‘Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Matt.3:2) 

Likewise, Isaiah wasn’t only talking about John the Baptist, but also about us, when he prophesied . ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ (Is.40:3, Matt.3:3). 

Yes friends, it is now up to us to fight the good fight. It all depends on us now, so today let’s take some time and sincerely ponder our individual situations, as to whether we are truly salt and light on this dark and evil planet. And whatever our conclusion, please, let’s ask the Lord to help us be what we ought to be. He will never refuse such a request. Much LOVE!

…a Christian should never abort his mission…regardless of his condition…