Holy Spirit

Don’t Forget the Salt

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I eat oatmeal for breakfast every day. I make it in small batches so I only have to cook it a couple of times a week. Yes. I cook it from scratch. I don’t use the packets. And when I cook the oatmeal, I always add a pinch of salt to the boiling water. It just gives the oatmeal a better taste. I’ve learned that the hard way.

The other day I was cooking oatmeal and I must have gotten distracted. The next morning when I took my first bite something tasted off. At first I thought the maple syrup I drizzle over it was bad. But no. I had used the same maple syrup the day before and it was fine. I kept eating the weird tasting oatmeal when it finally dawned on me. I had forgotten the salt.

Now I’m stuck for the next few days eating saltless oatmeal. Oh. I’ll survive, but my breakfast won’t be nearly as enjoyable as it usually is. I won’t look forward to my morning meal, as I normally do. I just have to remember to add salt the next time I cook oatmeal.

Each morning I’ve been eating this unseasoned oatmeal, I can’t ignore how unpleasant it is. What does salt do that makes food taste so much better? Especially oatmeal? Isn’t oatmeal supposed to be sweet instead of savory? I don’t understand. Nevertheless, I’m still eating the bland breakfast, and I can’t wait until I have a fresh batch to devour. And, by the way, when adding salt to oatmeal, never add enough so that you can actually taste the salt. That’s not the purpose of salting oatmeal. And that’s why I’m not adding salt to my oatmeal when I reheat it. It wouldn’t be the same. That would just make it salty oatmeal.

The reason salt is added to any dish is to enhance flavors that might otherwise get lost. It brings out the layers of goodness in any dish. Instead of eating bland food, salt takes the dish up a notch. It makes eating a more pleasant experience, so a little salt should be added to any dish that you’re cooking. Not to taste the salt, but to enhance the all around flavor.

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. Matthew 5:13

Did you know that the Bible actually talks about salt? There are several verses that talk about how salt is good for seasoning. Oh. You may ask. What does that have to do with little ole Christian me? Well. Let’s find out.

Matthew 5:13 tells us that as followers of Christ, we are the salt of the earth. And if we’re not salty Christians continually seasoning our culture, we’ve lost flavor. We’re worthless. Salt is also known as a preservative. It helps prevent rotting in certain situations. So we believers living a salty Christian life are helping to preserve all humanity from falling deeper and deeper into utter chaos and ruin. Oh. It may not seem like we’re having any effect. But imagine if there were no Christians on the earth right now. Evil would reign supreme. And that isn’t the case today, even though times may seem pretty hopeless. As long as there are Christians walking this earth, the Holy Spirit is still present doing his work. Because when Christ comes to call his children home, the Holy Spirit will depart this earth and all chaos will break out. This is not the time.

For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 2 Thessalonians 2:7

We have to realize that, as Christians we have a circle of influence, and we must season it with our godly lives. Whether it’s in our neighborhood, our workplace, our family, or our extracurricular activities, we must live with Christian purpose. Anywhere we interact with people, we Christians are the seasoning because the Holy Spirit is with us. And if we lose our seasoning, just as salt does, it means we are not actively living out our faith. We can’t stop living faithfully to Christ, or we lose our purpose and our Christian influence. So we must always be willing to give an answer for the hope that we have. Our hope is in Christ.

Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! Luke 14:34-35

We have to know that we aren’t living without hope. We have the hope of the world living within us. That hope keeps us salty. We as believers keep this world in check even when the tide seems to be turning against us. But in order for us to keep the world in check, our hearts and lives must live in check with the Holy Spirit. We must walk in the truth of the Light of the world. We can’t afford to lose our flavor. Otherwise, we’re not any good. Our testimony is worthless if we don’t keep our relationship with Christ fresh and growing. We followers of Christ serve an important role in the maintenance and upkeep of today’s culture. We must do our part and live faithfully according to God’s Holy Word, because the world is watching.

For everyone will be tested with fire. Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other. Mark 9:49-50

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:6

Believers Strong

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We see everything that’s going on in the world today.  And we wonder why.  But really.  We shouldn’t wonder.  It’s written plain as day in the Bible exactly why the world is in moral decay.

The world.  The people of the world refuse to believe in God.  The age old question is why.  Why do people refuse to believe in an all-seeing, all-hearing, all-knowing God?  Why do people turn their backs on the truth and run in the opposite direction?  Because, it seems, once people start running, they run too far.  And then if they decide to repent, it’s a long walk back to the truth.

Oh.  It can be done.  The long, humble walk of repentance.  and shame.  and regret.  That walk can be painful, but the prize at the end is glorious forgiveness.

It’s clear that we need the Holy Spirit in our lives today.  The only way the Holy Spirit could come to us is if Jesus left the earth.  That’s what he told his disciples.  They were sad, because they didn’t understand what he meant.  And they didn’t want him to leave them.  They didn’t understand that he was sending an advocate.  A comforter.  A guide in his place.  He didn’t leave this earth just to leave us alone. 

Here’s the thing.  While Jesus was in the world, the world’s hatred was directed at him.  And he knew that as soon as he was gone from the world.  That is, when he returned to heaven to begin preparing an eternal home for us.  That the world would direct their hatred at his followers.  And he was preparing his followers to survive that hatred by sending them the Holy Spirit.  He didn’t leave them here to wallow in fear.  He sent the Holy Spirit to lead them in truth.  But people didn’t understand his message.

Here’s the other thing.  Jesus could only be in one place at a time.  The Holy Spirit is not limited to one place.  He is everywhere at the same time.  Don’t ask me how that works.  I trust that is true, and I believe it.  Odd as it sounds.  I believe it to be true.  I believe it to be true, because I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. John 16:9

His message still stands true today. 

And the world still refuses to believe in God. It’s obvious. And now the world has placed a target on the back of those who call themselves Christians. For people who say their sins are forgiven and are following biblical truth, the world is quick to point a finger of ridicule and contempt. It’s because the world doesn’t know God.

But let’s back up.  When I say the “world” refuses to believe in God, I’m talking about those who reject God and the teachings of Jesus.  Those who pervert the truth.  Those who applaud and accept evil as good.  Those who reject biblical standards.  It may seem as though they’re fighting us, but they’re fighting the God of the universe.  We Christians are the standard bearers of the gospel, and we make those who reject God uncomfortable.  They may think we’re offensive, but it’s the fact that they are offended by God that makes us offensive.

And we can rise to the occasion.  If we ask God, he will empower us with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.  Because that same power lives within us. 

Let’s not be offended when we are shunned or canceled or persecuted.  When we are overlooked or singled out or ridiculed.  We are not here to impress others.  We are not here to bow to lies and fabrications of the truth.  We are here to lead the lost to a Savior who will forgive their sins.  We are here to witness to a hostile world.  We must be bold and confident in our faith, because the Holy Spirit lives within us and will enable us to stand strong in his truth.  He will equip us to love others in the same manner that we are loved.  We are his ambassadors in a world that is searching, but doesn’t know what it’s searching for.  We know that God is the answer, and we must be the ones to lead them into truth.

He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

The God I Know

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Oh.  Heavenly Father, God and Creator of the Universe.  You knew me before I was born.  You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  You numbered my days before I breathed my first breath.  You alone decided I would be born, and you alone will decide when my days are complete.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made by You.

You alone planned my days.  You know my accomplishments.  You know my failures.  You love me in my most lovely days, and you love me when I’m less than lovely.

You go before me and you follow me.  You surround me with your presence.  You work for me.  You fight for me.  Your heavenly armies follow me.  I can never escape from your Spirit.  Your hand guides me.  Your strength supports me.  You equip me for your work.  I am never far from your thoughts.

You search me.  You know my thoughts.  You read my mind.  You hear my words.  You test me.  You know my anxious thoughts.  Yet you still love me.  You won’t turn away when I call.

You are the first and the last.  The alpha and the omega.  The beginning and the end.  You never had a beginning and you’ll never end.  You are always.  You are eternal.  You are everlasting.

Oh.  You are three in one.  God, you are the Father.  Jesus Christ, you are the Son.  Holy Spirit, you are my Guide.  All of you complete the never-ending circle of the one and only God.  There are no limits to what you can do.  You are powerful.  You are able to do anything and everything.   At any time.

You are the God of peace.  You are kind.  Compassionate.  Loving.  Generous.  You meet all my needs and provide me with blessings.  Your grace is free and undeserved.  Your mercies are new every day.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.  Revelation 22:13

Your ways are beyond understanding. You are a good good Father. You know best.  You love unconditionally.  You love the lovely and the unlovely.  You are merciful and yet you’re just. You will repay and you will punish.  But oh.  Your blessings are unfathomable. Your love is endless.  Your grace is unearned.

You love everyone. Red and yellow, black and white. They are precious in your sight.  The lame. The blind. The sick.  The homeless.  The rich.  The poor.  The thief.  The artist.  The CEO.  The hourly worker.  You love those who are hurting. You love those who have hurt others.  You love the honest.  You love the liar.  You do not discriminate.

You allow Satan to tempt and trick your people.  You allow wars and disease and famine.  You allow untimely deaths and accidents.  Job loss.  Destruction.  Horrible crimes.  You could stop these, yet you don’t.  You allow nature to take its course.  You allow the sun to rise and set every single day.  You allow mankind to choose you or not to choose you.  You’ve given us a free will to live our lives as we see fit.  With you.  or without you.  And through it all, you love us.  No matter what we choose.

You offer forgiveness.  No questions asked.  You stand waiting for us to choose you over everything else we hold dear.  You offer eternal life.  You offer a heavenly reward.  You gave your Son.  For everyone.

Your work is never left undone. You finish everything you start.  You work thoroughly and perfectly.  You are the Master Creator, creating works of art for your pleasure and purpose.  You are the Master Carpenter, building an eternal home for those who follow your ways.

Through everything, you never change. The good. The bad. The ugly. You’re constant. You speak only the truth. You don’t lie. You keep your promises. In your own time.  Because for you a day is a thousand years and a thousand years is a day.  Time is nothing to you. Yet you created time.  In those 7 days, you created day and night.  Dark and light. Sun and moon.  Sea and land.  Food and flower.  Creature and man.

You are the final Judge.  You will have the last say about how I’ve lived my life.  You alone will decide if I am worthy to enter heaven’s gates.  Oh.  I’m unworthy.  But you alone, God, will determine my eternity.

You correct me when I’m wrong.  You counsel me when I need guidance.  You challenge me to trust you when I’m out of my comfort zone.  You carry me through the most difficult of times.

God, you are fair.  You judge and punish as you see fit.   You are impartial.  You decide who will rise and who will fall.  You allow rain to fall on the just and on the unjust.  You have enemies, but you fight cleanly and fairly.

God, you never change.  You’re always right.  You have the final say in all matters.  No one is better than you.  You alone determine the outcome of all events.  You alone are God.  You are the only God.  The one and only God.  All knees will bow to you at some unknown time.  All lips will confess you as Lord at the appointed time.

Bless your holy name.  Amen.