Light

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14 NIV)

We (Life Bridge Christian Church) just recently completed a study series that included components for Sunday Services, Small Groups, and two book options for daily devotions.  The series was entitled, "Not a Fan."  It was a great challenge for all of us who were involved in any way.  We are not called to be fans, but followers of Jesus.

Probably the most impactful portion of the series was the video story of a man who moved from fan to follower and the change it made in the lives of those around him.  People clamored for the opportunity to watch the film.  It was good to see.  It was even better to see the name of the production company who produced the 30 minute vignettes: "City on a Hill Productions."  The production company knows their mission from Matthew 5:14.  They are the light of the world.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:15-16 NIV)

Our love for God should draw others into a love for God as well.  People aren't attracted to a strained or antagonistic relationship.  They shy away from people who fighting, arguing, or just plain negative.  The same is true for a relationship with God.  When they see you fighting Him, arguing with Him, or just negative about Him, they don't want anything to do with Him.  That because it shows darkness.  We are supposed to be light.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (Philippians 2:1-2 NIV)

Being light is not about condemning, judging, or always being right.  It's about loving God so much that it fills our souls, our minds, and our hearts.  The overflow of our love for Him inside drives the words and actions that are visible outside.  We don't put on a show.  We don't play-act at anything.  We simply love, trust, and follow Him, even if it is not popular.  Sometimes we will be praised for this love.  Many times we will be ostracized for this love.  

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13 NIV)

Detractors will call us naive at best.  They will attach us at worst.  Regardless of their reaction, we continue to love, trust, and follow Him.  This consistent "salt" changes our immediate surroundings, making it better than it was before.  Over time, it will get the attention of people in our less immediate surroundings.  We start becoming the light of our world.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life... (Philippians 2:14-16a NIV84)

Does your love for God shine like a light in a dark place?  

Does the darkness around distract you?  

Do you live this live of love without complaining or arguing, letting your light will shine?

Salt

I remember being confused one time when our family had gone out to a restaurant for some special occasion.   I only remember that it was a special occasion because dad was dressed up in his suit and tie. We both needed to use the restroom, so we found the men's room before leaving for our next destination of the evening.  When I came out of the stall, I found my dad picking up paper towels that previous people had left on the counter, dropped on the floor, and had thrown at the garbage can and missed.  After picking up the trash, he proceeded to grab another clean paper towel and wipe down the counter which had soap drippings and water splashes all over.  I remember the scene vividly because he was doing all this work in his suit and tie - dressed up for a special occasion.

I don't know if I said anything to him, or I just stood and stared at the scene as it unfolded.  In either case, he began explaining his actions.  "You see what people do?  They leave a mess behind.  I don't understand that.  I always try to leave any place better than the way I found it."  He proceeded to finish wiping down the counter, washed his hands, then dried them with a fresh towel.  When he had finished and was drying his hands, I washed mine, grabbed a fresh towel, dried them, and noticed I had spilled a little soap as well...so I cleaned it up before leaving.

You are the salt of the earth. (Matthew 5:13a NIV)

This statement from Jesus never really made much sense to me in the early years of my walk.  Preachers would preach on the topic and I've read many commentaries on it as well.  For whatever reason, it still didn't really click...until recently.

In a day without refrigeration, salt wasn't just about making food taste good.  It was a preservative.  We weren't able to throw meat in the refrigerator or freezer, so it needed to be eaten right away or preserved with salt.  While the people of Jesus' day didn't understand all the details we know about bacteria, they knew that salt preserved the meat, keeping it from going bad.  Salt protected the food from spoiling.

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. (Matthew 5:13b NIV)

When we are the salt of the earth, we protect our environment from spoiling.  We act, like salt does, as a spiritual assassin for sin in and around us.  We find ourselves saying things like, "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't talk that way around me," "I see why you think that is funny, but I don't find humor in tearing someone down like that," or "That outfit is really distracting in a work environment.  Would you please choose something more appropriate."  We all do things to "spoil" the environment around us.  A person who is salt, however, will stop things from spoiling in themselves and in the environment around them.

When we back up a little in the chapter where Jesus calls us "salt," we find that he is walking us through a list of teaching we often call the "beatitudes."  He tells us when we should consider ourselves "blessed."  The list is unexpected.  We are blessed when we are poor in spirit, mourn, and are meek.  We are blessed when we are merciful, peacemakers, and pure in heart  We are blessed when we hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Oh, yeah, people may not like it when we love God so much that it begins affecting our environment.  So, we are blessed when they persecute us for walking together with Him.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV)

Jesus doesn't say we are blessed when we are persecuted for doing evil.  We are blessed when we are persecuted for loving Him.  This is when He tells us to be the salt of the earth.  He tells us that, as His followers, we will affect the environment around us.  We will love God with our minds, hearts, souls, and strength.  Our love for Him will reflect in our words and our deeds.  Our love for Him will effect our environment.  We will leave every place better than we found it.  We will be salt.

Deeds

“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is great to show our love for God with our words.  Our words, however, will have very little impact if our actions do not match.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  (James 1:22 NIV)

This makes sense if you think about it for a minute.  It's one thing to read a part of Scripture and understand what it says.  Take this Scripture as an example:

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (Matthew 6:31 NIV)

Reading this verse, we can pretty easily understand what it is saying.  Jesus is the one speaking, as my red-lettered Bible indicates.  He's telling us not to worry about the basic necessities of life.  He then goes on to explain that pagans (non-believers) worry about these things.  He also points out that when we seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness, God takes care of providing for these things.  We don't need to worry.

It's another thing to memorize this verse of Scripture so we can quote it to someone else.  Maybe we memorize the next two verses as well, so we have the whole meaning of Jesus' teaching here.  Perhaps we know how to quote it word for word.  We reflect our love for God through our words.

When you lose your job, though, and you are not able to make the utility bill, how do you react?  What does your life look like when the mortgage payments simply cannot be made so the house is in foreclosure or the car is being repossessed?  

Let's go in the other direction.  What are you really saying about your faith when you keep moving the line further down the field of financial security?  I need x dollars in my savings account to be comfortable.  I need such and such amount of life insurance, auto insurance, or house insurance.  I need to get my 401k filled to this dollar amount so I can retire and know I'm taken care of for the rest of my life.  "Wait a minute," someone may ask, "didn't you say you trust God to take care of you?"  Actions really do speak louder than words.

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (James 1:23-24 NIV)

We cannot forget what walking with God looks like.  Our love for God needs to be more than just our words.  It must be reflected in our deeds as well.  We cannot just work and take credit for our success, we must trust God for His provision.  We cannot just pick and choose the parts we want to follow.  Our love for God should result in our following Him everywhere, all the time, and in every way.  Remember, Jesus told us that we love Him when we obey His commands.  Our love for Him shows up in our deeds.

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (James 2:18 NIV)

Words

We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. (James 3:2 NIV)

Words are powerful.  They are much more powerful than we let on.  You've heard the saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."  But it's simply not true.  This saying has become popular because words can hurt.  We teach it to our children to help them deal with the hurt of an uncaring, even scathing comment.  We teach it to them so they can cope...and heal.  Words really are powerful.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:3-6 NIV)

It takes a monumental effort to control our words.  When we do, though, the benefits far outweigh the effort.  Control of the mouth yields control of the whole horse.  Moving the rudder steers the whole ship.  When we control our words, we control our lives.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:7-8 NIV)

The problem is that control seems elusive.  We can't seem to stop the words we want to stop, nor can we think of the right words when we want them.  A thought is just a thought when it goes into our minds.  We make it more when we share it with words.

What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them." (Matthew 15:11 NIV)

Names may or may not hurt the person being attacked with words.  They always, though, hurt the attacker.  When we use our words to tear someone down, manipulate for our own achievement, or lie, we are the one who is defiled.  We didn't take the thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.  We followed through with the bad box and shared it through our words.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.  (James 3:9-10 NIV)

While it may seem impossible to control our words, that doesn't change the fact that we must control our words.  Our words are not only a reflection on us.  They are a reflection of God.  We are made in His Image.  His followers are reflecting what they have learned from the one they follow.  His Church is made up of members of His Body.  Plus, we are all called to represent Him as His Ambassadors.  Our words reflect on Him as much as they reflect on us.

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45 NIV)

This is why it is so important for us to work on thoughts while they are still in our minds and in our hearts.  When we throw out the bad boxes and hold on to the good, there is nothing in our pool of possible words but good.  Speaking good words becomes much easier.  Our words are simply reflect of what we have already stored away in our hearts.  No filtering or straining for "a good one" is necessary.  That battle is already won.

Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3:11-12 NIV)

This is why it is so important to love God with your whole heart, whole mind, whole soul, and all your strength.  Fight the battle for thoughts as they come into your mind and before they get stored in your heart.  Then, when your words reflect what is in your heart, you won't be defiled by your own words.

Listen to your words today.  What do they reflect?  Do they match what is in your mind or heart?  How do they reflect on God?  What will you do to align your words more and more with His?

A Genuine Love (Part 2)

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  (Matthew 6:1 NIV)

I'm spending a second day on this topic because it answers so many questions I had about walking together with God.  On one hand, we are told to "let our light shine."  On the other, we are told not to practice our "righteousness in front of others."  So, what do we do?  Do we let people see our good deeds?  The answer:  it all comes down to love.

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  (Matthew 6:2-4 NIV)

Well-meaning business minded people have taken me aside to "teach" me the way the real world of finances works.  They will talk to me about marketing strategies, numbers of people, and things I should be saying to get more money out of people.  I've had well-meaning religious minded people try to do the same with me - explaining that I need to teach people to tithe (the practice of giving 10% of their income to God, supporting God's workers who serve them.)  But, I still continue to teach in ways that confuse and frustrate these people.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. (Matthew 23:23-24 NIV)

You see, there's nothing wrong with giving 10% of your income to the church.  I know Life Bridge gladly receives the tithes of many families who worship with us.  Not only that, their giving worships God and supports His workers...like me.  In the New Testament, the examples of giving are far greater than 10%.  People sold land, and holdings.  They sold everything and pulled it together so God's work would continue.  Who knows, they may have even been tithing to the temple at the same time!

The problem is not with giving or the amount you give.  In fact, Jesus told them they should have been tithing.  Giving is a part of our walk together with God.  In the earlier Matthew passage, Jesus starts the sentence with "When you give."  He assumes you will give.  The problem, though, is with our motivation.  It's a matter of the heart.  Hypocrisy is play-acting.  It's showing the whole world what you're doing so they will see how great you are, but inside you are only doing it for the recognition or some other ulterior motives.

Teachers have a second problem.  Our teaching needs to point to God's greater priorities or we run the risk of becoming hypocrites as well.  We can't be telling people not to worry about what they will eat or where they will sleep, then work on the "perfect sermon" to get them to give.  Teachers, like non teachers, need to be content teaching people to seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness and then trust that He will take care of the rest.  We need to practice what we preach so we aren't "play acting" either.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  (Matthew 6:5-6 NIV)

These concepts don't just apply to money.  They apply to prayer.  They apply to marriage and sexuality.  They apply to work and leisure.  They apply to every relationship we have, everything we say, and everything we do.  That's a tall order!

How, then, do we live a life that is not "play-acting" for others to see, yet is a visible light shining before people?  The answer is, simply, love.  Genuine love for God will affect our words and our actions.  We won't be saying or doing those things because we want to show off or have others see them.  We will say and do those things simply because we love God.  There's no hypocrisy in genuine love.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. (Jude 1:20-21 NIV)

Does your life reflect a genuine love for God?  Do you feel like you are "play-acting" that love at times?  How can you move the "play-acting" to a genuine love?

A Genuine Love (Part 1)

Early on in my Computer Science studies, I learned a concept that would stick with me for the rest of my technical life:  GIGO.  (Techies love acronyms, don't they.)  GIGO simply stands for "Garbage In, Garbage Out."  In the Information Systems world, this helps us work with data that gets entered into computer programs and systems.  When I misspell my name signing up on a web site, the computer will accurately store my misspelled name and display that misspelling on the screen and reports.  The computer simply reflects what is stored inside.

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other... (Matthew 6:24 NIV)

The same concept holds true in our walk together with God.  Storing “garbage” inside will eventually come out in our lives.  All the discussion about boxes, conveyor belts, and warehouses simply help us understand what is going on in the Spiritual realm.  These tools help us understand how to deal with GIGO in our minds and hearts - first by protecting them, and then by cleaning them.

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."  (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV)

This is important because our relationship with God is the most important, and longest lasting, relationship we will ever develop.  We are trying to build a relationship with God that is positive, good, and filled with love.  GIGO (or bad boxes) get in the way of that kind of relationship.

…There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:16-18 NIV)

You may start out being overwhelmed by the awesome power of God.  Perhaps you were raised to see God through the eyes of strict rules that inevitably lead to punishment when you break them.  While God flexes His powerful “muscles” to get your attention and sets rules to protect you from even greater consequences, His end goal is never to have a relationship with you based in anger or fear.  He loves you.  He wants you you to receive that love and love Him back.

And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. (Romans 8:27-28 NLT)

Loving God with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength is more than a command.  It’s a way of life.  When we live life this way, God shows us His love by working all things together for your good.  When we genuinely love God, it is good.

Is your love for God genuine?  Is there “garbage” or are “bad boxes” getting in the way?  Take the time to talk to Him throughout your day to build your relationship closer than it was before.

A Visible Love

I remember when my wife and I decided to start dating.  We had met only a few short weeks earlier and had spend some time starting to get to know one another.  When we finally decided it was time to "date," we didn't tell all of our friends right away.  We had all just started college and all these friendships were new and growing.  They wouldn't catch that we were getting to know one another, we reasoned, because we were all getting to know one another.

Several of us would carpool from our home area on the West side of Cincinnati to our school in Northern Kentucky.  It saved on gas money and it made the ride through gridlock more enjoyable.  One of those days, Traci and I were not the drivers and ended up sitting in the back seat together riding down to school.  Half way through the drive, we found ourselves holding hands.  We didn't figure our friends in the front seat would see it.  We were wrong.  The friend in the front passenger seat, while talking to us, turned around...and we were caught.  Our budding romance was visible.

Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.    (John 14:23-26 NIV)

Love for God cannot stay hidden.  In fact, it shouldn't.  Love changes everything.  Love changes the words we say.  Love changes the things we do.  Love changes the way we live.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.  (John 15:9-14 NIV)

Love not only changes the way we live.  It makes life better.  We experience joy in our hearts and a spring in our steps that wasn't there before.  We look forward to getting up in the morning.  We have trouble falling to sleep at night.  Every moment away from the one we love is a moment too long.  We want to be with the object of our affection.  We want to be with the one we love.

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, (1 John 5:2-3 NIV)

Until we get to be with the one we love, people around can tell that something is different.  The one we love is always on our minds, so we end up talking about it.  We may show pictures, tell stories, or simply say, "You know, I'm just thinking about _______ again."  Our love for God manifests itself in much the same way.  The beautiful part, however, is knowing that God is doing the same thing for us.

We love because he first loved us.  (1 John 4:19 NIV)

As you go through your day today, remember that you don't need to hide it.  You can let it show.  You have someone you love and people are allowed to know...because the love is mutual.