Matthew 5: 13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Revelation 3: 14-16
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
I think there is a reason Jesus spent so much time with tax collectors, fisherman, lepers, the invalid, and prostitutes. They had not lost their flavor. They weren’t wrapped in layers and layers of religious piety, political correctness, and polished public personas. They were just real – broken but real. And when they met the Messiah, they didn’t ask a bunch of questions. They knew their maker. They were thankful for his presence and not resentful.
“Just be yourself.” How many times have we offered that advice as parents and teachers? How many times were we told that as children? Like the fishes that were delivered to Jesus at the feeding of the 5,000, he will take who we are….and multiply it a thousand times over.
In our classrooms, our churches, and our communities…there are many, many who need to hear that they are an important part of the story of God’s redemption of His people. When they commit their lives to Christ, they are going to be born into a life they never dreamed possible – an earthly life with eternal purpose.
Though I certainly think that we need to honor and respect God’s ultimate position of holiness and authority, I tend to think Jesus would prefer to sit with us, enjoy a jovial(or serious) conversation over dinner, and talk about life. He wants to know about our day – the good and bad. Nothing we say is going to surprise an all-knowing God. When we confess our shortcomings, he already knows.
May we live our lives with flavor. May we be the antithesis of lukewarm. May we do our best to reject sin, and embrace his grace. Despite our own flaws, may our witness be strong so that others might see and know that Jesus has come near.
