# 20 - Influencers
The Church
Defined
# 20 – Influencers
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Matthew 5:13,
“You 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.” (ESV)
Jesus’
analogy of salt was an extremely profound one. A huge jar of unused salt will
benefit no one. However, even a little salt added to any dish will make a big difference
to it’s taste. The presence of salt will not go unnoticed, so also it’s absence.
If salt loses its saltiness it will become totally useless.
Jesus
referred to us as the ‘salt of the earth’
to help us understand that we the church are chosen to be a godly influence in
this world. While we are happy to congregate as ‘salt’ somehow, we have failed to let this saltiness penetrate into
every area of our lives and various spheres of society. Jesus cautions us that
if we become ‘tasteless,’ we lose the
ability to effect change in people and situations around us, and also resulting
in us becoming useless.
Think
of all the people whom Jesus influenced while He was here on earth; his
disciples, the multitudes that followed Him, his earthly family, the religious
leaders, the sick, the outcast, the sorrowing, the demon possessed, the tax
collectors, and political leaders of His day. Every one of them who encountered
Jesus were affected in some way and were not the same again.
In
Romans 12:2 we read, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this
world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you
think.” (NLT). Over the years, we have permitted the values and
lifestyle of the world like materialism, dissensions, immorality, corruption
and the like to replace godly values and thinking.
In
Revelation Chapter 3:14-22 the Lord
addressed the church at Laodicea. These are His words in verses 15-16, “I know all the things you do, that you are
neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will
spit you out of my mouth! (NLT). The problem with this church was that they
had been consumed by materialism and self-sufficiency which brought them to a
place of indifference. What happened as a result was that they were unable to
evaluate themselves aright or see themselves from God’s divine perspective and
had become of no value to Him. It was to this church that the Lord said, in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at
the door and knock.” (ESV). It seems that the Lord was shut out of the
church, and was seeking permission to re-enter, in order to renew the
fellowship that He once had with them.
The Lord has chosen us to be His representatives, which implies that we reflect Him in our speech, conduct, relationships, values, character and holiness. We are reminded from 1 Peter 2:12, “Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world.” (NLT)
Someone said this so brilliantly, “The church can never be the salt of the earth, if we keep sugar-coating our messages.” Charles Spurgeon said this so aptly, “I believe one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church.”
As ‘the salt of the earth’ may we influence those around us to seek the Lord and enter His Kingdom.
Click here for the other devotions – The Church Defined
The Life Transforming WORD – By Esther Collins
Yes the Church was meant to go into the world and make disciples of Christ but sadly the world has come into the Church and made for itself some disciples. We need not be discouraged though, we will continue to be that salt that Christ wanted us to be.
ReplyDeleteGreat devotion, God bless you
Thank you for sharing your kind thoughts and encouraging words.
DeleteAmen!! We are God's representative. It's time the Church realises this truth and arise to reflect Him and to awaken others to the wonder of God's word and salvation. Thanks dear for this devotion that encourages us to be the salt of the earth. GOD BLESS.
ReplyDelete