Wrapping up this mornings service. Champs telling me his breakfast is overdue. So its off to the barn, then later down to the Stockyards to take in Toys For Tots. Spending the Lords day with people doing the Lords work, helping make things better for those who could stand to catch a break. Ill close out the morning portion of the day with the song below. Its less a praise song in my mind than it is a reminder of just how blessed we are... and that with blessings come responsibilities. Its not that Christ gives us mandates and chores. Its not just fundamental rules and regulations. Not at all. Rather, its that because we are so loved, we are able to love not only in return but also to all of those around us. Thats powerful right there. Matthew 5:13 says 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. Theres a challenge in there, and part of it often gets overlooked. We focus on the idea that we should remain faithful (and therefore salty). In so doing, our lives lived as much like Christs as possible, will attract others. Right? Thats what we hear in church and in Bible study. The part we forget, or neglect, or ignore, comes in when we get stuck on that faithful part and decide we need to exclude others. At which point we stop being the salt of the earth... and start being the salt in the wound. The choice is ours. The consequences? Theyre not only ours but also those of everyone we harm in our blinded self righteousness. Think about it. And then remember to stand, amazed, in the grace of Jesus. Then live accordingly. youtube/watch?v=dpot-ZDYHAQ
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 16:00:42 +0000