by R. Herbert | Nov 29, 2013 | Discipleship
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You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world … let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5: 13-16).
Although Jesus’ statement regarding being the light of the world is related directly to His disciples’ good deeds, His words at the same place in the Sermon on the Mount regarding being the “salt of the earth” do not say exactly what the salt represents. All we are told is that it is important that salt has “saltiness” or “flavor” and if it loses that, it isn’t good for anything.
Despite attempts to explain the symbolic importance of salt in this verse as a preservative, a purifier, a symbol of righteousness, and other things, it would seem best to simply accept Christ’s words that if the salt loses its flavor, it is useless. This was, after all, the primary use of salt – to give flavor and make things pleasing and palatable – as we see in the Book of Job: “Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt?” (Job 6:6a). The apostle Paul used a metaphor of salt in a similar way, saying: “Let your utterance be always with graciousness, seasoned with salt…” (Colossians 4:6). This understanding of the function of salt to make something pleasing and acceptable seems to be strengthened by Jesus’ additional comment recorded in Mark: “Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50). Here we are to be “palatable” and thus acceptable to each other and at peace.
Understood in this natural way, Christ’s words that His disciples are the salt of the earth mean that they represent humankind to God in a pleasing manner – making the world “palatable” to Him, as it were. As the light, His disciples represent God to humanity through good deeds. The expressions thus encompass in only a few words the roles and responsibilities of discipleship as it relates to God and man. Representing humanity to God and God to humanity might seem like huge responsibilities, and they are, yet we can be encouraged. Jesus does not say to His disciples “Strive to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” He says “You are the salt and the light.” We can always strive to better serve in these ways – and hopefully we will – but if we are His disciples, if we have not lost our spiritual “flavor” and we have the good deeds that are part of our calling, we can rejoice that we have the privilege to function as salt and light in God’s plan.
by Staff | Nov 24, 2013 | Updates
Good quotations are often similar to biblical proverbs: short, succinct statements which are easy to understand and to remember. Often they just make a single small point, but sometimes they are “micro” sermons in themselves with clear relevance to Christian tactics and strategy.
This week we introduce a new feature to the site – a quotations page which will feature carefully selected quotes from a wide range of Christian authors. While the inclusion of a quotation on the page does not imply that all the writings of the person quoted are recommended, each quote hopefully will have clear veracity and value. New quotations will normally be added to the page weekly. Enjoy!
by R. Herbert | Nov 22, 2013 | Obedience
It’s the kind of verse that is easy to read over without noticing anything unusual about it, but Leviticus 19:3 specifically ties two of the ten commandments together: “Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths …”
What do the commandments to keep the Sabbath and honor our parents have in common? It’s not just that they are the two positively expressed commandments – there are a number of other similarities that you may find interesting. More importantly, this isn’t just a Ten Commandments trivia question. The fourth and fifth commandments share a connection which can help us better keep them both. Take a look at this week’s new article,
“The Positive Commandments”, and see what those positive connections are.
by R. Herbert | Nov 17, 2013 | God, Growth
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” ― Albert Einstein
“It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky
A cartoon I saw recently showed a youngster telling his parents “Great news, Dad and Mom – My intelligence test came back negative!” Intelligence testing is a huge industry today, and many different types of test have been developed. You can find dozens of IQ tests online which will measure verbal, mathematical or other forms of raw intelligence. But, as may be seen by the quotes above, some of the most intelligent minds have realized that unapplied intelligence is worth little, and that intelligence without action can be meaningless.
There are a couple of verses in the Book of Jeremiah which relate directly to this: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom … but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight says the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 KJV).
How do these verses apply? The interesting thing, in terms of this topic, is that these verses constitute a very real intelligence test. Notice the admonition in verse 24: “ … but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands…” Here, the word “understands” is translated from the Hebrew eshkl to “use intelligence”. The New International Version gets a little closer to this meaning: “… that they have the understanding to know me …” (vs. 24 NIV, emphasis added), but we can go one step closer to the literal meaning by saying: “… that he uses intelligence to know me …”. Therein lies the test. How effectively do we use the intelligence we were given?
If we think about the words of Einstein and other thinkers regarding using intelligence to change and act intelligently, we see that the smartest intelligence test is perhaps not the one you may find online or purchase from some testing organization, but the test that comes to us courtesy of the Book of Jeremiah. It’s not just asking if we “know the Lord”, however. Our score is based on how well we really come to know the character and traits of the One who exercises lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness.
by Ken Ryland | Nov 14, 2013 | Positive Living, Tactical Articles
By Ken Ryland
It’s a lost art among Christians. There is a stigma about meditation because of the popularity of Eastern Hindu-style meditation, but that is only a symptom of the problem that Christians have with meditation. I can’t think of any Christian that I know who practices Eastern meditation.
That’s for the New Age crowd, yet Christians continue to shun one of our most important ways of understanding God and His will. The excuses for avoiding meditation are rooted in our modern culture. Maybe Christians need a new perspective on meditation.
The key to proper meditation comes from the pen of King David in the Psalms: “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalms 46:10). This verse strikes at the core of our modern human problem; we have lost the art of being still.
There was a time not long ago when people would take time to go into the woods, sit under a tree or along the bank of a stream just to be alone and reflect on life. There they would ponder nature and the heavens, and all the work of God’s hands. Many would take walks alone just to regain their “balance” about life and its demands.
Today, people loathe being alone and hate the silence of isolation. The solitude of one’s own thoughts is frightening to most people. There is a fear of confronting head-on one’s thoughts and earthly passions, hence the clamor for an ever more dizzying array of distractions to prevent the self from confronting the self. There is never any peace in our pursuits, only a yearning for the next distraction to keep us from seeing ourselves as we really are ― and as God sees us. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” (John 14:27). This is a gift and a promise from Christ. Nevertheless, I defy anyone to find five Christians out of a hundred who know true peace such as Jesus described.
Meditation is pondering, wondering, musing, contemplating, and at times, just being still. It is leaving God time to catch up with us instead of fleeing from one distraction to the next. The Holy Spirit is a great teacher and problem solver, but it is only when we have cleared our minds of distractions that we can allow the Holy Spirit to do its work.
Have you ever wondered why “sleeping on it” is such a good idea? Our subconscious is working all the time, even when we sleep. It is during sleep when there is an absence of distractions that God often does His best work in reaching our minds and hearts with just the right answer presented in just the right way. We can also create those times of solitude with God when we separate ourselves from television, the computer, or the cell phone and simply are alone with our Creator. Make no mistake; our Heavenly Father relishes those moments of undivided attention that we give Him when we are alone, and I don’t mean when we are praying. Praying involves talking; meditation is that time when we are listening for His counsel, when we hear His voice ringing in our minds. For He is love, and He loves to commune with us in our silent moments.
Meditation should be a regular, daily practice. You say you don’t have the time. Maybe that’s why you are having trouble in your relationship with God and why you don’t understand His will. How about spending a little less time in front of the TV or at the computer, and more time alone with Abba, your Father? Are you serious about walking in His ways and being the best Christian you can be? Then eliminate some of the distractions in your life, and fill that vacated space by fellowshipping with God ― just being alone with Him.
Bible study and prayer are important and should never be neglected, but don’t just learn about God or spend time on your knees detailing a laundry list of petitions for Him to fulfill. Be still, and alone by yourself come to know who He is. Stop talking and distracting yourself with your worldly needs; just listen to Him as He renews your mind and communes with you through the Spirit that He has made to dwell in you.
Meditation by God’s faithful servants throughout the ages is recorded many times in the Bible. Isaac went out into the field in the evening to meditate (Genesis 24:63). The Psalmist meditated on the mighty works of God (Psalms 43:5). In this Psalm the writer uses “meditate,” “muse,” and “remember” almost interchangeably. In Psalms 63:6, the Psalmist meditates on God “in the night watches.” After the death of Moses, God comes to Joshua to instruct him to carry on the redemptive work that Moses started. In those instructions the Lord tells Joshua, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). God was not telling Joshua about the Law, as is the common misunderstanding. He was telling Joshua to mediate on the Book of the Law (the five books of Moses, the Torah) which included all of the mighty and wondrous acts of God, not just the writing of the Ten Commandments at Sinai.
In the New Testament the apostle Paul instructs Timothy to mediate: “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (1 Timothy 4:15).
Meditation is communion with God, reaching out to Him and hearing back from Him. It is as important as prayer and Bible study. Meditation focuses our attention directly on our Heavenly Father and away from our worries and concerns that often interfere with hearing His counsel and instruction. It is quiet time to listen to His voice while calming our agitated spirit. Don’t shortchange your relationship with God. Add meditation to your routine and reap the rewards of greater satisfaction in your walk with God.
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