Be Salt. Be Light
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· 8 viewsWe live in a world that was created by God to be VERY good. Sin corrupted it. However, Jesus redeemed it and our job remains the same as it has always been... Keep His creation very good. We are a preservative and a guide for the world around us.
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Gravadlox
Gravadlox
The World was Created Good
The World was Created Good
And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:18
So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:31
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Our Job
Our Job
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
Gen 1:
Our job was to care for His creation.. keep it very good.
Our sin blew it.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
He Is Our Redeemer.
He Is Our Redeemer.
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Titus 2:14
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Our Job
Our Job
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Mt 5:13-16
We are the thing that God has placed on the earth to keep it from going bad.
Our job is to care for what He created - and keep it very good
Our job is to care for what He created - and keep it very good
His Global Economy vs The Way the World Sees it
His Global Economy vs The Way the World Sees it
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
What Happens To Those in the Wrong Economy
What Happens To Those in the Wrong Economy
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mt:5:17-
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
MT 5:
The Kingdom of Heaven cannot be earned by being perfect.
We cannot work it up.
For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Be Salt. Be Light.
Be Salt. Be Light.
Like Gravdlox
Years ago a friend of mine and myself were walking on the beach. Washed up on shore was what I was told later was probably a northern pike. It was huge. So my friend and I did what every boy should go with every large dead bloated fish - we poked it with a stick. When we did, it basically blew up. Stuff spewed everywhere like a geyser. That was pretty cool for all of 2 seconds - then the smell hit. So bad we almost spewed like a geyser ourselves.
The world is like that bloated fish. It’s all puffed up full of hot air. There is no hope. THey look at what God sees as important, humility, meekness, pure in heart, merciful, peace makers, those who stand for Christ in the middle of adversity..... THey look at those things and think they are stupid. On day their bloated corpse is going to be seen for what it is… rotten to the core.
There is one help.... one thing that keeps it… us. We are salt and light…
Be Salt. Be Light.