Written by David P. Nolte
From Dave's Den:
Hopefully we all want to live effective lives for Jesus Christ! If we want to live effectively, we must be salt and light in the world; both influence and change their habitats. Both are stronger than their surroundings.
As Christians, we are not either salt or light -- we are to be salt and light! That's Jesus' expectation, His demand. That's not an option for the disciple!
BUT if salt quits seasoning, preserving, penetrating and bettering its milieu, it is worthless. AND if light is hidden under a basket and does not shed light to dispel the darkness, it is worthless.
Salt that and light that don't influence their environment are aberrations. Salt that takes on the flavoring of the medium in which it is, or light that is overwhelmed by the darkness are anomalies. We are not to be ashamed of Jesus, or afraid of the wrath of the ungodly, or intimidated by possible failure. We are just to shake and shine!
Jesus said, "Go into all the world and make disciples ..." but He surely did not say, "Go into the world and become like it!" The church is to impact the world, not vice versa! The church is not to go incognito and blend in! We are not spies checking it out, we are salt and light to change the world!
So how is your saltiness? How is your light shedding? Are you more influenced by your environment than you influence it? Are you impacted upon by the world more than you impact it?
Consider your calling in Christ; be aware of who you are in Him. Live up to your calling! Be what and who you are!
The world needs it, Christ demands it, and we can do nothing less!
Yours for impacting the world for Christ,
Dave