It takes God given guts to be salt and light in this dark world. Jesus had God given guts. He is our example. After proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God and enduring much persecution for 3 years, Jesus endured the cross for us. Since this is Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper, going into Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus, going into Easter Sunday in commemoration Jesus’ resurrection, let’s pause and reflect.
Pointing to the faith of those who went before us, whoever was inspired to write Hebrews wrote:
1 Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Yeshua, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin. 5 You have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children,
“My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord,
nor faint when you are reproved by him;
6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines,
and chastises every son whom he receives.” Hebrews 12 WMB
Jesus began His public ministry with the Sermon on the Mount. He started it with the 9 Beatitudes (Mt 5:1-11). Concluding with verse 11, He explained.
11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16 Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5 WMB
Heathens would like to put out our light, but in America, it is illegal for them to murder (even Christians). So, in your face heathens launch many forms of coercion and intimidation to quench our light. Wolves in sheep’s clothing use more subtle forms of manipulation to diminish our light even though they are heathens pretending to be Christians. Lukewarm Christians show their discomfort with speech seasoned with salt. Some show their disdain when we speak the truth in love. Out of friendship and politeness, we tend to dim our light for them.
Faith is the lamp; love is the light; the good works are the illumination. As little as the lamp can pride itself upon its light, so little can the Christians glory in their good works; all glory must be God’s. Kretzmann
Let’s pray Paul’s prayer for one another.
We do pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of the calling, and may fulfill all the good pleasure of goodness, and the work of the faith in power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and (the) Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12YLT