Salt of the Earth

In Matthew 5:13-16 "13You 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. 14 You are the light of the world. a city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 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."

Salt is used to add flavor, to help preserve. It is a mineral needed by all living creatures. When abused, salt can be detrimental to our health, but at the same time, some salt is necessary to maintain good health because it helps regulate the water content in our bodies. And from my 'nurse-brain' standpoint, I know that we use salt water to irrigate wounds to promote healing as it is a disinfectant, and helps remove debris that could be left in the wound, irritating the surrounding tissues, and preventing healing. 

 

Jesus uses this analogy in a way as perfect as He is, because we as Christians need to bring balance and hope to an otherwise dying world.

He also asks the question, what good is the salt if it has lost it's flavor. In other words, if we as believers lose our passion, our zeal, our intensity to live for Him through Him, then what is the difference between the old grain of sand we were before being saved, and the salt we are now? Very little. We must maintain our "saltiness" and strive to live out His law, and be more like Him everyday.

Salt becomes diluted with water, just like Christians can become diluted (or changed) by our experiences. We have to realize in these experiences or times that are challenging to our faith, that the enemy is at work; the Devil will do his best to shake our faith, to make us doubt God, to make us doubt His perfect plans for our lives.

In Mark 9:50 Jesus says, "Salt is good: but if the slat have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peach one with another." When you are in the ocean, and get some ocean water on your lips, you taste the saltiness, maybe you smell it when you are on the beach and the wind is blowing toward you. Either way you know it is there, that the water is salty. But the only way to extract the salt is through boiling it. What if the only way to re-salt ourselves is to go through some fiery trials that God throws at us? God is not out to get us, He is not the destroyer, but Satan is. God says in John 10:10, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they may have eternal life, and that they might have it more abundantly." God is the healer, the mender of broken hearts and broken lives.

When water is boiled, it either proves or negates the amount of salt that was in the water. In the same way trials in our lives will test our faith, test our "saltness," showing how much our lives are flavored by God, and reveal to ourselves and to others just how much we are lacking.

In the same way Jesus says we are the light of the world. So not only are we here to slow the moral decay of this world, but we are here to bring change, bring hope to those who will be receptive of our saltness. God knew this world needed light, this world can be such a dark place. It is important though that we make a point of this light not being our own light, but rather Christ's light shining through us. Everyday we are surrounded by people, lost ones, loved or strangers, groping around this dark world for something, anything that will bring them hope in their day, something to live for. Well Jesus put us here for a reason, be that beacon, be a lighthouse, help show them the way to Him.  It all will start with the way you treat them, and over and over in the Bible God tells us to love Him, and love your neighbor as yourself.




The only way we are able to be the 'salt' and 'light' is by the grace of God. If we are not, then we are sinning against Him. We as Christians need to repent, and turn back to Him, let Him have our time, our hardest efforts, for His glory. With His strength, all things are possible.

One to be Sought After

There has been all but a very short time of my life that I have been without companionship of the opposite sex. My one and only "official" relationship I have had with the opposite sex lasted six weeks I believe. That is hardly half a % of the amount of time I have spent on this earth. I see men, I see men all over, good looking, not-so-good looking, kind, not-so-kind, happy, depressed, elated, married, single, divorced, engaged. I see them. Sometimes I get to know them, sometimes not. Sometimes they seem like the type of person I would let have some of my time, sometimes not. Sometimes the ones that want my time are the ones I can't imagine wasting another breath with. And even sometimes, I meet them, get to know them a little, and can already imagine the rest of my life with them ( I am guilty of this).

BUT, all the while, deep down inside, I wish that I had found my one and only, found that man to throw a ring on my finger and grab hold of my heart forever. Someone to stand by me, encourage me to grow in my faith with God, and want to get to know me more and more everyday. Someone who puts God first. Someone with a compassionate heart and a kind voice. Someone willing to put up with all of the mess that makes up who I am. Someone willing to help me clean it up when I get messier. Someone who will be just as crazy as I am all the time, someone lighthearted, someone that loves being outside, someone that enjoys spending time with family, someone willing to go to the ends of the earth to ensure that his family is provided for. Someone to stick up for me, someone to rub my back after a long day. Someone to hold me, just because. Someone to share all my dreams and fears with. Someone to pray with daily. The one I am to spend the rest of my life with. Someone who fears God daily, and teaches our children the same. A man after God's own heart.

I recently had a conversation with some co-workers. We talked about me being single, if I am looking, and if so what "type" of guy I am looking for. My stipulations were, "He has to have nice teeth, and be at least a cm taller than me. He can't be too much overweight because that will just scream laziness. And he needs to go to church, he needs to know the God I know." Their response to this was "well, good luck. You're too picky! What about having a job?"

Now thinking back, I am just like whoa! Firstly, I don't anticipate finding an unsaved man, but maybe that is God's plan. Maybe He threw me down here on earth to show this one man whom He has intended for me to marry, His love, and strike up a curiosity in him to invite the Holy Spirit in and take over. But more importantly, why was God and said man's relationship with Him my last stipulation? Newsflash, Rachael. Not only should that be priority, but that should be the only priority. As I sit here, and attempt to mature as I age, (this will be a forever process...I don't anticipate ever being as mature as my age says I should be) I have had my eyes opened to this.

I was reading in Job 31* tonight, and there, there is where I found the guy I want. I want a man of integrity, one who stands in God's promises. A man who commits to personal purity, who reflects justice in all dealings, who gives generously to others. A man of God who shows compassion to all. A man who sets Godly priorities in life. A man who lives out his faith in God, doesn't just throw it on his shirt sleeve, to show to whomever he thinks needs to see it. A man who forgives others, no matter the wrong. A man who opens his home to those in need, who walks with the Lord. A man who seeks to do right. This, this is the man I should search and long for. A man worthy of being sought after.

So, I will be picky. I will not lower my standards. I will stand by my choice to remain pure until I find my future mister. I will wait, on the Lord, I will wait. I will wait for His perfect plan and timing. As patiently as possible, I will wait on Him. My prayers have changed from Lord show me this man whom you want for me to marry (like, ASAP), to Lord, I pray for my future husband today, that You would guide his heart, and bring Him closer to You as we both wait on each other. I know You have a will, God, and where there is a will there is a way, and Your way is best, Your way is right.  <3





*Job 31:4-40 (KJV)

Making it Legal doesn't make it Sinless

Same-sex marriage, since I was a child I have known this was a definite no-no in the eyes of God. Unfortunately we live in a nation full of people who don't choose to turn to the One who gives them their very breath. Being attracted to someone of the same sex just is not natural. God does not place that longing in us, regardless of what we convince ourselves to believe. Way back in Genesis 2:24 is where marriage is first introduced to us by God in the Bible, this verse states, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (KJV)
--First thing I take from this is that a man is to "leave" their parents, this I believe is signified in the ceremony of the public commitment of the two to each other.
--Secondly that the man is to "cleave" to his wife(female), to show tender affection and faithful commitment in a permanent relationship of growing love
--Thirdly that they are to "be one flesh" in physical union, noting the most exclusive and deepest intimacy.
--Finally, did we note that this was one man, and one woman? One of each, only one, and both of opposite sex.
Furthermore in Leviticus 18:22, God clearly states, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is an abomination." or in Leviticus 20:13 "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Now one could argue that we are no longer bound by the laws in the Old Testament. When Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sinful nature on the cross, he put an end to the Old Testament law. In Romans 10:4 it says, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." And again in Galatians 3:23-25 it states "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to brung us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." He put us instead under the law of Christ. In Galatians 6:2 it says "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." which is to... "(Jesus said unto them) Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matthew 22:37-39 KJV. By obeying both of these commands, we will do all that is required of us by Jesus. In order to do both of these, we should automatically be falling within the context of many of the commandments, for many of them fall within the realm of loving God and loving thy neighbor. In Galatians 5:14 He states, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

But in Mark (New Testament) it says this again, reinstating the commandments found in the Old Testament, in Mark 10:6-9 "But form the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain but one flesh."

And in Romans 13:8-10 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Though shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

We believers are not here to judge, God tells us again and again in the Bible not to do so, but rather to love. To live in a manner that edifies and builds up others, that promotes harmony.  God has a plan for humanity, and his intentions for marriage and sexuality are clear. One man and one woman, married. But instead of sitting here and condemning homosexual people, I will instead share God's loving warning, and try and show His grace for them who have strayed from His will for marriage.

In James 4:12 it states, "There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judges another?" Saying that we are not put on earth to judge others, but to enlighten them on God's plan, to show them God's love, and to leave the judging for the only One who's judgment matters.

Hebrews 13:1-5 "Let brotherly love continue. be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Marriage is honorable in all, and then bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."

In John 8:7-11 "So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the women standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more." Jesus is a forgiving man, he paid the ultimate price for each and every single one of us weak humans on this earth.

Romans 1:26-28 "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." This is what our nation needs, turn to God and be forgiven. Seek Him, and repent.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be no deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, now thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." No matter what we do, God leaves the freedom of choice up to us. Those that choose to follow Him, His commandments, His will, they will be granted the kingdom of heaven, those that opt out, well your choice, but you are missing out on the greatest of all gifts.


Case in point, I am not saying that their sin is acceptable, or that this law being passed makes their actions okay in God's eyes, but rather that we are commanded to love one another. We can hate the sin, but love the sinner with God's love. Pray for them, pray that they will turn and seek God's face and that this nation will seek His will and strive to keep His commandments. God's forgiveness, mercy, and grace are always available to those that want them.



*all Bible verses quoted in this blog are pulled from the King James Version of the Bible