Be Salt
Day Five: “You are the salt of the earth.” Matthew 5:13
My response: “You have to be kidding. Salt in a cut or wound can hurt so much. I think I had rather be sugar and spice and everything nice if it’s okay with you. When I am salt to someone, I know his or her reaction to me will be, ‘She rubs me the wrong way.’ That hurts me.”
His reply: “I know. Let me explain this to you. When you come across those who are ‘raw’ toward their God, your presence, and who you are in Christ Jesus, hurts. They have an open wound so when your salt (my presence) is evident it causes irritation, bitterness and spitefulness. They lash out to hurt you before others…wanting you to look bad.”
My response: “Father, now I get it. It reminds me of Paul’s life in the bible; his becoming salt got him into hotbeds of trouble. Yet, this enabled more space for your grace to work in his life. So, if being salt will bring your grace (God’s Resources at Christ’s Expense), I ask for train loads of grace. May I dive into it again and again to make your grace evident in my life and for others to share.”
Your response:
Be His Errand Person
Day Six: “ You will tell people about me everywhere.” Acts 1:8
My response: “You have to be kidding! Is that what you really want me to do…to tell your story. That scares me. What if I mess it up? What if they don’t what to hear your story? What if they stop liking me for bringing it up? Okay, just what do you want me to tell them?”
His reply: “Tell them, even though you are a writer, you are not the author of the story of my love. You are just my errand boy to remind them I love them; tell them I want them to come home. Don’t forget to tell them I have prepared a way for their homecoming. Then I want you to be living proof of what Jesus can do for them and in them. Out of the fullness of your heart you speak of me.”
My response: “Father, finally I got it! You want me to bear fruit. As I understand this, I bring you and others together through my prayers and by actions. Then your Holy Spirit can have more room to work in their lives. It also moves Satan back of the playing fields of their lives so you can have more room to work. Right? Is the track to put your story on inside me? Is it an over flow of your love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, mercy, faithfulness and self in step with you? How can I keep silence when others are crying out, ‘Tell me the old, old story of Jesus and his love?’”
Your response:
|