My Beautiful Reminder

Matthew 5:13 states very clearly, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." But what does this actually mean? What is "salt of the earth" and how do we become the salt?

There are key principles in Jesus' metaphors for salt and light. Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven impact society because they are different (not strange or bizarre, but DISTINCT) from the Kingdom of this World. When salt and light try to accommodate and/or be conformed by the Kingdom of this World, they inevitably will lose their distinctiveness and potential to impact the decay and darkness of the this world which is passing away. God has left believers in the Kingdom of Darkness and Decay to dispel the darkness and reverse decay, as peacemakers giving out the word of reconciliation (2Cor 5:14-21), a word which in some will birth new life and to others will cause them to hate and persecute you. A key thought in the metaphors of salt and light is distinction. Salt is needed because the world is rotting and decaying. If our Christianity is also rotting and decaying, it won't be any good to those we are trying to witness to. Light is needed because the world is in darkness. If our Christianity imitates the darkness, we have nothing to show the world, no light to shine and cast upon the darkness. To be effective we must seek and display the Christian distinctive. We can NEVER affect the world for Jesus by becoming like the world. Remember what Jesus tells us in  John 17:14-16, "(v14) I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (v15) I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (v16) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."

Earth is used as the metaphor for the people of the world.
Salt is natural salt which purifies, cleanses, preserves from corruption.

Salt was one of the earliest of all preservatives and was a valued commodity in the ancient world. Without any source of refrigeration, salt became the means of preserving meat from decaying, as the ancients rubbed down meat and fish to preserve it for regular use. Seafarers just a century ago would salt down their fish and meat to preserve them for the long transatlantic journeys. Salt was so important as a corruption preventative in the ancient world that wars were fought over it, and entire economies were based on it. In short, salt could literally make the difference between life and death in a time when fresh food was unavailable.

The importance of being the "salt and light" of the earth is a tremendous honor given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ! His WORD, His promises and His Love gives us all that we need to accomplish what He intended for us. Which brings me to my beautiful reminder of that very thing....

Today, I believe, was one of the most difficult, trying, and challenging days I've had in a very long time, and surely since I've worked in my current job! It was unbelievably busy, to the point I had to turn some people away because I wasn't able to provide them with the attention they would need nor was I able to provide the computers. I was beginning to become harried by the early afternoon. From the moment I got into work until I left, I had 18 people in both rooms, at any given moment at different intervals of the process, and many of them pulling me in several different directions! I tried to maintain my own composure through their frustration and confusion as I kept a smile on my face the entire time. I knew some people were watching me handle all of this alone and whatever happened, I knew I had to react Christ-like. A few times it was CHALLENGING to say the least! Then the first reminder happened and changed the course of the rest of my day!!! A man came to my desk to ask me about some opportunities that I may know of in his field. I don't have a clue what sparked the conversation to take the turn it did, but in any event, suddenly he began to tell me about why he was seeking new employment. I've said before in an earlier post, sometimes total strangers will tell me things that I never ask and that are extremely personal. This was no different.

After he told me about taking care of his mother for the past 13 years while raising his son by himself with full custody, he told me something personal. He stopped, looked at me with that calm, but surprised look, and said, "I'm sorry. I don't know why I just told you that." He smiled. I smiled knowingly because I did know why he told me what he told me. GOD. I saw him noticing my cross ring and necklace. I glanced at him and said, "Well it was meant to be and that's how God wanted it." Just those words opened him up and relaxed him. We began to talk a little more while I encouraged him with insight and scripture. I have Proverbs 3:5-6 typed and taped on my monitor so I turned it around and told him that he needed to meditate on that verse and let it be a constant reminder of trusting in the Lord. He read it and smiled a very peaceful smile and said he was very glad he came in today, that he needed the encouragement and said he was glad I was the one he got to see. He then proceeded to tell me that he had made some bad choices in life, veering off the path of the narrow, how he was called back to the Lord and how hard it has been recently! Once again, I encouraged him. I explained how the enemy has a target on him now because it was easy before when he was being tempted and living in the world, but now that he returned to the Lord's voice, Satan wants to keep him away. I reminded him that Satan has been defeated and the ONLY thing he can do is what he allows him to do...and that's to bring up the past mistakes and make him feel guilty. I was reminded of the power the Lord gave His children over Satan but we need to remember, and believe in, that ultimate power through Christ in Luke 10:18-19, "(v18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. (v19) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

I also told him at this point that had he changed any one of those decisions, he and I wouldn't be talking and that he wouldn't have gotten the words the Lord wanted him to receive! He said he had chills and that the hairs on the back of his neck stood up! I laughed and said, "Well, that was the Holy Spirit speaking to you through me and obviously you received it!" I shared a story with him about myself because I wanted him to know that we all veer off the path but when we do, we need to learn the lessons so we can share our testimony with someone else that the Lord will place in our path. He understood that as well! Other very personal and spiritually deep things were exchanged and by the time he left, he was walking a little taller and a little more confident. As he was leaving he said very genuinely, "I am so glad I met you and God Bless you! I was supposed to be here today wasn't I? Thank you for your help and for speaking with me when I needed it the most." WOW! What a wonderful reminder of how our Lord works through us for others around us!!! The 2nd reminder was just as powerful but in a very different way.

There was a lady who was extremely agitated and demanding. She was not very pleasant and was making ugly comments in a room full of other overwhelmed applicants. I was wearing thin by this time and suddenly she had an outburst! It surprised me and slightly angered me! People were feeling pity for me at this point and I tried very hard not to snap at her. I failed. I finally told her to come to my desk and I maintained my composure after she yelled at me. I knew it wasn't directed towards me, but I was just in her line of fire. That wasn't an excuse to act the way she was acting. Once I sat her down, she began to grumble and fuss and I stopped her in mid sentence and told her by getting upset and angry wasn't helping her in any way, nor was it going to make the process go any smoother. One thing led to another and in less than 15 minutes she was crying and apologizing to me saying how kind I was, how she was so sorry for acting the way she did and how ashamed she was. Not by anything I said to her personally, but it was through my actions, and lack thereof, that elicited that response from her. She felt my spirit and seen the light inside. She knew I was genuine. I told her I accepted her apology, I spoke to her a little softer and explained a few more things to her to help her out. There was one more lady left and we were nearing closing time. She was obviously listening to this whole conversation and watching the other lady's reactions and actions.

The Illuminated Word

As the overwhelmed lady apologized once more to me, she hung her head and told me she was sorry for acting the way she did, that I didn't deserve to be treated that way and she didn't know what come over her. I looked her dead in the eyes and told her, "It was fear. And that's OK. I understand this process because I've been through it more than once. It's not fun. It's scary. It's confusing. I just want you to walk out of here knowing I will help you in any way that I can but YOU have to be receptive to that help and to be patient and understanding to others around you." I then made a little joke and for the first time, she smiled a genuine smile with a chuckle. After she got to the door, she told me how glad she was that she came in today and that she got to meet me. That was the 2nd person to say that......and then the last lady who had been listening to the whole thing and watching for the past hour and a half came to me and told me what a wonderful "light" I was in that Resource Center, how awesome my personality was and how it was "obvious" that I was cut out to do this job! I thanked her...but somehow I knew it was words from God....Him acknowledging my existence, my frustration and my heart. He uses all of us to deliver messages....for His purpose. In His time.....to be the "salt and light."

Today was my beautiful reminder of my Lord and Savior standing beside me, guiding my steps and holding my tongue while He used me in three people's lives....to touch them, to witness to them and to be kind to them!!


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