Ephesians 6:5-9 - Salt and Light

        I am a futurist in only this sense, that God is growing His kingdom today and that the future is better because of what God is doing and what God has promised.  I trust God’s character as shown to Moses and throughout Scripture - for His character never changes.  I trust God to build us up as his dear children, to train us as His disciples.  We are and will be servants of the Most High, unashamed.

        I’m not into high-pressure sales.  They are a sign of insecurity and little faith. We don’t need to scare or trick people into heaven - not that we could.  Shame on the shysters and the doom and gloom artists who manipulate with their forced alter calls, their greed, and their deception.  God calls us to discern false teaching and to expose it.  Do that today.  And have nothing to do with them.

        King Solomon leaves us with a great conclusion.  Much the same really as Paul's counsel in Ephesians 6:8.  The wisest of the wise told us to not forget our Creator, the One who put the spirit of life in us.  For a day will come when our bodies will “return to the earth, and the sprit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).  We are to fear God and obey His commands.  Like Solomon, Paul puts it this way, “Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free” (Eph. 6:8).

        The question of what to call ourselves and how we see ourselves is a good and important thing.  It impacts our mindset as we strive to imitate God.  Consider what James, Peter, and Paul thought of themselves.  They called themselves slaves of Christ.  If that is our mindset then God, Jesus Christ, is our Master.  It is a humble and subservient thing to say you have a Master - it goes against our human nature and our desire to be the Captain of our own soul.  I'll say it: Jesus is my Master, and I am an undeserving yet blessed servant.  On God's behalf, we are his ambassadors, salt and light in this dark world that grows ever more bright as the King approaches.

        But once you know God and His character it is the highest privilege to be His disciple and to have God as our Master.  God is our loving Father.  He is tender and compassionate to those who fear him.  Thankfully, He knows how weak we are, and through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, God has removed our sins (Psalm 103:12).

        So what?  Well, God has complete authority over us.  Authority does not mean some robotic control or micromanaging control.  Ask any parent of young children.  They know that their little precious parcels of energy do not always do what the parent with authority wants.  It just doesn’t work that way.

        The modern church may take note of the ancient.  Just an idea.  How about we refer to Jesus, like the apostles did, as our Master - our Saviour and our God.  Today people throw around the word “lord” so much and so lukewarmly (if that is a word).  The concept of “Lord God” seems to have lost reverence, and meaning.  We are to greatly respect and reverently fear our Lord and King.  Let’s do that today.

        Lord Jesus, my King, I love and respect you and I need your good guidance today.

        We must serve our Master with sincerity.  That’s something we need to do a better job of.  I half-heartedly approach life sometimes.  I can grumble and complain.  And exaggerate.  We lack faith and focus and we can be cynical and flippant.  God’s army of angels is active and at work executing God’s plans and we are busy complaining.  Not good.

        We can become much more intentional and consistent in our walk with God.  Salty Christians are meant to permeate every aspect of the nation.  Let’s not huddle up in our own little communes.  There is no need to put up a castle wall, a mote, draw a bridge, and all the defenses against the evil world.  This passage tells us clearly that we can pick up our Master’s spiritual armor and go out into the battle well-armed.  As God’s children, we are to grow in Christ and to go in Christ.  

        Let’s be that salt and light today in our neighborhoods and in the organizations we work in.  As servants of God let us see people the way God sees them today.  Let’s serve others with all our hearts.  And may we do so with enthusiasm for we know that the Master’s promises are good and He gives us every resource we need to complete our jobs.  

        Lord Jesus, I pray for your people to represent you well today, to love and serve you well in everything we do.  Amen.

Armor in the Governor's Mansion, Williamsburg, VA