Salt of the World

I realize I haven’t posted but The Desert Pastor has shared some of what has been happening in our lives over the past few weeks.  It has been a long, difficult and trying time but not without joy in knowing the Lord is still in control in our lives.  Here is an excerpt from The Desert Pastor:

“Over the past 2-3 weeks, my posts have been greatly limited as have my comments.  A very small group of people are aware of what has happened in our lives, but we are thankful to the Lord for those who have offered words of encouragement.

“The Christian life is NEVER easy, but then again, the Lord Jesus Christ never promised that it would be.  What can add further stress and turmoil within the life is serving within the ministry.  The ministry has its own set of trials, joys, and headaches.  Of recent days, the ministry has been extremely difficult as I will now share with my readers.”

Continue Reading Here

The life of the believer is so fraught with trials, tribulations and suffering that were we to experience nothing we would have to wonder whether or not we are true believers.  These days it seems to be the “IN THING” to say that God has a plan for you for good and not evil and that things will be a bed of roses.  As true believers, we are NOT PROMISED THAT!  We are promised a difficult time in this world and we must be wary of the thoughts within our minds that would say, “Things should get better!  I’m doing the right thing so why am I NOT being applauded by the world?  Why do even so-called ‘Christians’ seem to turn on me when I do what is right?  Why don’t people agree with the Bible and just get on with life according to the Word of God?”

There are some verses that we need to look at to remind us that we are not of this world!

Matt. 10:24-25 says, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!” (John 13:16; John 15:20-21)

Matt. 5:10-12 tells us, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Lk. 6:22-23; 2 Cor. 12:10; Jms 1:12; 1 Pt. 2:12; 3:16; 4:14)

We must remember that we will not be applauded by the world or even by most so-called Christians when we do the “right thing”.  Our lives will convict men’s hearts when we strive to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matt. 5:13; “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

Lk. 14:34-35; “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

We are supposed to be salt and our lives are supposed to convict the lives of other men and women.  One day we will have to answer to the Lord and we should want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of your Lord!”  Let us each determine (with the Lord’s help and grace) that we will be salt to those about us in every area of our lives!

Morning and Evening

The more you know about Christ, the less will you be satisfied with superficial views of Him; and the more deeply you study His transactions in the eternal covenant, His engagements on your behalf as the eternal Surety, and the fulness of His grace which shines in all His offices, the more truly will you see the King in His beauty.  Be much in such outlooks.  Long more and more to see Jesus.  Meditation and contemplation are often like windows of agate, and gates of carbuncle, through which we behold the Redeemer.  Meditation puts the telescope to the eye, and enables us to see Jesus after a better sort than we could have sen Him if we had lived in the days of His flesh.

Would that our conversation were more in heaven, and that we were more taken up with the person, the work, the beauty of our  incarnate Lord.  More meditation, and the beauty of the King would flash upon us with more resplendence.  Beloved, it is very probably that we shall have such a sight of our glorious King as we never had before, when we come to die. Many saints in dying have looked up from amidst the stormy waters, and have seen Jesus walking on the waves of the sea, and heard Him say, ‘It is I, be not afraid’.  Ah, yes! when the tenement begins to shake, and the clay falls away, we see Christ through the rifts, and between the rafters the sunlight of heaven comes streaming in.

But if we want to see face to face the ‘King in His beauty’, we must go to heaven for the sight, or the King must come here in person.  O that He would  come on the wings of the wind!  He is our Husband, and we are widowed by His absence; He is our Brother dear and fair, and we are lonely without Him.  Thick veils and clouds hang between our souls and their true life: when shall the day break and shadows flee away?  Oh, long-expected day, begin!

by Charles Spurgeon