The Qualities of Salt

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned?'          

                                                                                    Matthew 5:13   NKJV

Salt is connected to purity

It is said that the Romans felt it the purest of all things. If Christians are to be the salt of the earth, they must be examples of purity. A Christian should be honest in everything, it is an example of good moral standards. We have a mandate to God to show the world Jesus Christ. Therefore, we need to avoid being tarnished with the world's standards. In social conversations, we must rise above the jests that are not Godly. In social conversation, it is so easy to drop your guard and fall into the trap of ungodly chatter and acts. We must remain as salt - pure.

Salt is a preservative

Plutarch, a Roman historian and philosopher had a very strange way of describing preserving meat. It is told that he said, 'The meat is a dead body and part of a dead body, but salt preserves it, keeping it fresh and therefore, is like a new soul inserted into a dead body'  

                                                                                  sourced from William Barclay's notes on Matthew

Therefore Christians must do their best to preserve the Name of Jesus, keeping themselves pure as a shining example of belonging to Him.

Salt protects from corruption

If Christians are to be the salt of the earth, they must have a certain antiseptic influence on life. Christians must be a cleansing agent in society. They must be the ones who by their presence, defeat corruption.

Salt adds flavour to things

For many people, food cooked without adding salt, is not nice. They say that it can't be added afterwards, successfully, it never tastes the same. Just viewing certain cooking programs on TV, tends to agree with this thought with presenters saying that the food lacks seasoning. It is a choice thing but, in the medical world it is a no-go.

Christianity is to life what salt is to food - it adds flavour. For Christianity it is the flavour and aroma of Jesus that draws people to Him. Salt must never lose its saltiness. Mixed with certain chemicals, humid conditions and a damp environment, salt can become practically no good. In the same manner, Christians need to be aware of certain things that can draw them away from the truth, becoming ineffective in the presence of unbelievers. Don't allow this.

Therefore like salt, Christianity should, be pure, be a preservative, avoid corruption and add flavour. Acting in these qualities will make you, the salt of the earth.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Look up

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God 2 Set your minds on things above not on the things on the earth"                                                                             Colossians 3:1-2   NKJV

When things go wrong in your life, who is the first person you seek help from? Is it your partner, pastor, family or friends? When you are in a storm all of this helps but, the most important call you should make is Jesus. Our text tells us to 'Seek those things which are above' and 'Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth'. Jesus should be your first contact because He is able to provide the help that no one else can.

Verse 2 directs us to get our thoughts right. They should be focused on Jesus, not on what is happening around you. Your thoughts can lead you down the wrong path. Time and time again, false thoughts can enter your mind and cause panic. If you listen to these lies, you can be hooked into something that has not happened. Therefore, focus on God, because He always shows us the truth.

Tony Evans comments on these verses:

'Believers must be tuned into the Heavenly Broadcasting Network to receive data needed for daily living. Take a look a good look at heaven's perspective on every issue so you will know how to live on earth.'                            The Tony Evans Bible Commentary

Jesus is never too busy to answer you. He watches over you all the day. Take for example the account after the Feeding of the Five Thousand. Jesus put the disciples into a boat and sent them to the otherside of the lake. They did this but, soon got into problems as a storm hit the lake and they were in danger of capsizing. Jesus had gone up a mountain to be alone and pray. However, He noticed them and set off walking to the boat on the water. When He reached them, they thought He was a ghost and were scared even more. But He calmed the wind and the waves and they were safe Matthew 14:22-33. 

Watch what happened; He saw them from afar and heard their cries of desperation and He came to them. And He will come to you as you keep your eyes set on Him. He will bring peace, hope and encouragement. Therefore, don't ever take your eyes off Him and look at what is around you instead. Notice that Peter looked around at the wind and high waves and he sunk. He took his eyes off Jesus. Don't do that  -  Look up!

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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He has taken your sin out of the way

 "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it"                                  Colossians 2:13-15   NKJV

Have you fully realised that Jesus overcame sin? Whatever you may have done in the past, if you have confessed it to Jesus, He has forgiven you and taken it away. The devil had a charge card against you, but Jesus washed it away - He wiped the board clean and, nailed your sin to the cross. Where is it now? 'As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us' Psalm 103:12. He has placed them where they can never return - an infinite distance away.

Notice the words, 'And He has taken it out of the way' v14. If you were to mention a particular sin to Jesus, He wouldn't know what you mean because, He paid the price for this and nailed it to the cross. He refuses to remember it and so should you. Otherwise, you are agreeing with the accuser by thinking that your transgressions are there forever - you're condemned. NO YOU ARE NOT! You are forgiven. When you do sin, you come under conviction. This is the time to repent and ask forgiveness. Be careful here though, because if you think you are still under conviction, you are not, you are feeling condemned and this is what the devil does. Don't be fooled; repent and be free from it.

Watch this: 'Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it' v15. He actually bought shame and ridicule upon the rulers of darkness by the victory He had at Calvary. You back a winner with Jesus, don't give in to the loser. Jesus is the victor and, because of this, you become a victor too. 'Yes but.. ' 'Yes but nothing, you are a winner'.

The next time you fall into sin - and you will do - remember to repent as soon as you can, receive His forgiveness and refuse to remember it again. If condemning thoughts attack you, take them captive and make them obedient to Christ 2 Corinthians 10:-4-6.

Remember, Jesus made a public spectacle of the rulers of darkness. You are a sin-free Person of God. Is there an Amen here?

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Do you know that you're saved?

"Vengeance is Mine and recompense; their feet shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them."  

                                                                               Deuteronomy 32:35  NKJV 

God was ready to take vengeance on Israel's enemies but, Israel had to learn a lesson first. They needed to stop relying on their false gods for help in times of troubles and, turn to God for help. He would then act on their behalf.

The great preacher Jonathan Edwards, used this text when he preached his infamous sermon - 'Sinners in the hands of an angry God', in 1741 at The Great Awakening in Enfield, Connecticut. The impact on the crowd was astonishing; they were hanging on to chairs, tables and even trees outside of the church, to prevent them sliding into hell. Many of these people were unsaved, critical and unsavoury men and women, who paid little attention to God. But this day they had turned up to listen to this man who the town were talking about. The result was they had a great awakening and they repented and were never the same again. 

God knows who are genuine believers and He also knows those who profess to be but, haven't actually asked Jesus into their lives. Let me just say this, time is running out. Take a look at our world, it is full of evil and its decaying rapidly. People are far away from Jesus and are dying in their sin and all they have to look forward to, is eternity in hell, separated from God and their believing loved one's.

Don't get left out. You may have been a Christian but, something happened to turn you away. Turn back to Him now. Others may never have thought about Jesus properly but, He has thought about you, often. Being a Christian is not a fairy tale. You will still have problems but, you will have Jesus to help you. Whatever has happened, Jesus will take revenge on all who have hurt you. Just leave it to Him and come and give your life to Him now:

'Lord Jesus, I repent of all my wrong-doing. Please forgive my sins. I am sorry. Please come and live in my heart and, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and be my Lord and Saviour. Amen

One thing is for sure, you will not now, slide into hell, you'll walk into heaven and the ams of Jesus when you die. Until then, walk happily with Jesus.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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You have received Christ

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving"                                                     Colossians 2:6-7  NKJV

Tall oaks are rooted very firmly in the ground so that they can stand against the storms of nature. Likewise, we believers should be firmly rooted in Jesus, with knowledge and experience. So get into the Word.

Tony Evans comments: 'The Christian life should continue as it started - with faith in the gospel message'. The Tony Evans Bible Commentary

Let us focus on our text above. You and I have received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Nothing can stand in the way of this fact. It's something we need to remember every time that doubt tries to attack us or problems surround us and it's difficult to find a way through. We have received Jesus; He is with us always!

As we read our bibles, pray and worship Him daily, we begin to walk in Him - He is beside us. However, there is a need to be rooted and built up in Him. This happens as we commit everything to Him. Trouble may attack us but, because we are rooted in Him firmly, we are able to stand against the storms of life. As we do, Jesus edifies us (builds us up) by gently whispering to us, 'Do not be afraid, only just believe' Mark 5:36. 

When we stand rooted in Jesus, we become established - we come into existence and are set up to stand in the armour of God, ready to come up against whatever we may face. As our relationship grows with Jesus, we abound in His love and His direction. We realise that He is 100% for us - we have His protection whatever may happen. If we were to die today, we know we would be with Him, face to face - instantly! He has paved the way the way for us and, this is where thankfulness comes into operation.

Where else could you receive such assurance of love and certainty for your future? Jesus is the manager of the greatest Life Assurance policy. You could never find better. And you have received this, in Jesus!

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Who Am I?

"Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt"                                                                  Exodus 3:10-14   NKJV 

This must have been a startling moment in Moses' life. First he hears a voice speaking to him from a burning bush; and then the voice tells him that he must go to Pharaoh and rescue all of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt.

Moses replied, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? (v11). He then asks God who he should say sent him on this task. God replied, 'I AM WHO I AM'. And He continued, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you' v14.

We can learn a lot from this scripture. God is the great I AM. Just as He told Moses, He says to us also: 'I AM WHO I AM.' He is literally telling us:

'I AM HE who feeds you, heals you and looks after you. Whatever you need - I AM ABLE. I AM your Shalom, Shalom - Perfect Peace (Isaiah 26:3)

Like Moses said in verse 11, 'Who am I?' You can declare with God at your side, 'I don't think I am, but I know I am.' There is a major difference here; you're speaking with a voice of faith. Of course, you will possibly hear another inner voice that says you can't. But this is the word of doubt. Ignore it because if God says you can, then you can!

The dialogue may go something like this:

You say, 'Who am I to go? God says, 'Yes, but I will go with you.'

Expand this further to fit in with your life:

'I will never be able to do that.' 'Yes you will be able because I AM with you.'

'I'll never be able to do that job or go to Uni.'  'You can do this, because I AM with you.'

For every doubting word that you are about to say, quickly change it into a positive as shown above. Basically, you may be saying, 'I can't do that' but God counteracts with, 'Yes you can.' Grow your faith in this way. You may be tempted to say, 'Who am I?' Answer this by declaring, 'I am a child of the Living God. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' Philippians 4:13.

Who am I? - I am God's child.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Record of Wrongs

"Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs."   

                                                                                   1 Corinthians 13:4-5  CSB 

Love keeps no record of wrongs. In other words, it doesn't go around pointing the finger at other people's faults. It doesn't criticise or judge people.

Charles Spurgeon said:

'It never proclaims the errors of others. It refuses to see faults unless, it may kindly help in their removal. It stands in the presence of a fault with a finger on its lips. It does not attempt to make a catalogue of provocations,'

Let's be honest here, we have all done this. Some of us have a library of wrongs about some people. We gossip about others whether we know if there is any truth in what we say or not. But if it is true what we say, we shouldn't be saying it anyway. It's almost like we are waiting for someone to be caught out in a sin and punished or look bad in other people's eyes. Some people even have an attitude towards God for allowing them to go through hurtful situations.

Ask yourself, where is the love in all of this? Sometimes we can read scripture, shout Amen to it and then, go out and do the opposite. Thank goodness God doesn't operate in this way. He doesn't keep a record of our wrongs once we have repented. He wipes them away (Colossians 2:13-15). Therefore, shouldn't we do the same? What right have we to criticise, gossip and keep a record of people's wrongdoing?

It appears to me that we should be so grateful to Jesus for forgiving our wrongdoings and ask forgiveness if we have been involved in thinking bad about others. If we don't, we will have to give an account to Him one day for all the criticism and record keeping we have done.

Now that doesn't bear thinking about. So, if this has convicted you, ask Jesus to forgive you right now and, avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

        

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