Oh, Speaking of Salt

When was the last time you thought about salt? Most of the time we only consider it a condiment. Not high on the topic list at parties. But salt used to be very important.

Salt was used in history as pay for work done. I know if my employer paid me in salt I would be a little offended but it was that valuable and important at one time. Salt was a preservative before our wonderful refrigerators were invented. Salt was used as a cleansing agent. Salt was used as a medicinal cure. And Salt was used on sacrifices with the Israelites starting in Leviticus.

Salt was also an Old Testament Covenant agreement between two parties to symbolize a brotherhood that could not be broken until death. This covenant meant binding permanence and utmost loyalty. A Covenant of Salt was never entered into haphazardly.

In Matthew 5:13

So when Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth,” the disciples and followers that heard this had very different perceptions than we do today.

Did some regard it as being the Gospel element used to give people the greatest, most important, and valuable gift around? Yes. Did some think they were to preserve and uphold righteousness in themselves and those around them? Yes. Did some think their message from Christ should be the cleansing/ curing agent in a worldly society? Yes. And some thought of the Salt Covenant. To them this was a permanent alliance with the Lord Jesus Christ.

And when Jesus added, “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.”

At that point in His message, I think the people there got it more than we do:

1.     The teaching of Christ and His salvation is the most valuable thing I can give to others.

2.     My job is to live, preserve, and carry on presenting the Gospel of salvation.

3.     The only thing that can really cure sin is belief in Jesus and I need to give out this remedy.

4.     Jesus is giving this covenant to me. Do I accept it or reject it? This is not something to take lightly.

5.     If I don’t grow in love, mercy, grace, peace, humility, and joy (the beatitudes He just gave) then I’m not really helping God’s eternal plan for me and those around me.   

6.     There is nothing more important than salt and so there is nothing more important than being salt for Jesus.

So even though salt is not a hot topic for us,

it is for Jesus. 

Odd Todd Part Two

Matthew 5:11-12

Blessed and happy are you when others revile you, pursue you, and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

When you live for Jesus you live against Satan and his sin system. You can’t help it. That’s how the Christian life works. If you never feel that pressure from Satan’s forces to conform, you might be trying to hide from being an “Odd Todd.” (You’ll have to read last week’s blog.)

If those around you don’t know you are a Christ follower, you’re not doing it right. Because Jesus didn't say  if  you are persecuted and pursued on His account  but  when  you are. Yes, I looked it up in my lexicon and it’s  when.

This is so like the earthly life of our loving Christ. If there ever was a peacemaker it’s Christ. And yet everywhere He went He was pursued by those wanting to learn from, believe in, and be forgiven by Him and those who wanted nothing more than to discredit and destroy Him. His life was a confrontation of sin. His life conquered sin. His life, death, and resurrection gave us victory over Satan’s hold over our lives. That can’t make Satan and his forces happy.

   

So for we, Christians, it’s a wonderful, awful, victorious, scary, happy, sad, life filled with the best sister/friends you’ll ever know and the worst enemies that hound your heels you’ll ever know. It comes with our surrender to the Christ like life.  

Whew, that’s a little harsh and hard to totally surrender to. But throughout the history of Christ followers it has been that way. So why do we still to this day commit to Jesus Christ? Why do we follow this controversial God? Because we were drawn to Him. Because in our pursuit to find the wonderful life, we found wonderful Him.

The delightful thing about these happy instructions from Jesus (yes, the Odd Todd is coming out) is that these ungodly people are pursuing us. They are drawn to us and our Christian peculiarity. They notice us because we are so Odd Todd. And they want to know why. And they want to know if it is real. Wow, this puts us in a great position. Whether they like it or not this persecution puts the persecutors right into our Gospel giving hands.

This is God giving us an opportunity to show the world what He can do with a life, what He did in our lives. God gives us not only the gift of salvation, His promise to be with us for all our life, and heaven beyond but leads others to pursue us so that we can automatically share His plan of salvation.

Is it always fun and exciting? Sometimes Yes. Sometimes No.

 Is it always pleasant? Sometimes Yes. Sometimes No

Will it make us happy? Always Yes.

Odd Todd to the max!

Odd Todds

First Grade teachers are a peculiar bunch. I should know. I was one for many years. And it has left a permanent mark on my personality. We, first grade teachers, have a song for every event and learning point in life and break out into singing at a moment’s notice. We have a game for everyday of the week. We have pictures to illustrate everything on God’s earth. And we have a book to read to kids for everything we teach.

This brings me to one of my favorite kiddie books; “Even Steven and Odd Todd” by Kathryn Cristaldi, Hank Morehouse and Henry Morehouse.

Even Steven does everything in even numbers. He blends in with societies’ “normal.” Odd Todd, well, he sticks out because he doesn't  conform. He does everything in odd numbers and goes against the fairness law of life. There will always be one left over with him. There will always be one that doesn't belong with the other with him. And you know our world works better if everything swings along evenly.

Since that book, I call everything that sticks out as an Odd Todd. This brings me to the irrefutable fact that Christians are Odd Todds. We don’t travel along with the current of the popular. We stick out. And because we stick out sometimes the world treats us without respect. We go against the grain. We don’t bend or bow to things that do not conform to the Word of God.

Now Jesus said that this peculiar road we Christians walk would be filled with persecution and happiness. That is really Odd Todd because those two things don’t usually go together. We don’t go around saying, “Make fun of me.Tell me just how different I am. Point out my faults. Show me how I go against everything around me. I like it!”

Matthew 5:10 Blessed or happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

One pastor says it like this: (The comments are mine.)

“These are the truly happy people.” (What? What?) “These are the people that are really blessed with a kingdom of heaven attitude. When we have the kingdom of heaven attitude we are going to find that there will be a process of pain and suffering involved.” (Did I sign up for this?) “You will be a peacemaker, yes, but you’ll be a troublemaker, too.” (OK, here is the Odd Todd part.) “And the more you live the Beatitudes, the more likely there is to be a reaction from people. You will create a response, positively or negatively in the world.” (I don’t get a choice about how the world reacts to me. I am supposed to have this happy attitude, this kingdom of heaven attitude, this gracious attitude.)

So in the face of persecution just for being a Christian we say, “Bring it.”

We can handle it.

It makes us happy.

And, yes, we are Odd Todds.

Do Not Disturb

I stayed at a hotel recently and I’m always fascinated with the little “Do not disturb” signs you hang on the outside door handle. You know me and my wacky sense of humor. I always think, “What are you telling people when you don’t hang it on your door? Disturb me please? Yes, even though we are all strangers to each other, please feel free to disturb me.” So I always hang it out because who wants any Tom, Dick, or Harry to disturb you? Not me.

Anyway, this brings me to the seventh happy beatitude:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

The word “peacemaker” here is used as an adjective. It is supposed to describe us. We are supposed to be able to put it front of our name to define our character. We are not just to keep the peace as a status quo but we are supposed to make peace everywhere we go. We are in essence a walking “Do not disturb” sign.

“Peacemaker” is only used this one time in this way in the whole New Testament. So you know Jesus was serious when He said this as an instruction for daily living.

If verse 7 is the “mercy” verse, then this verse 9 is the grace verse. Mercy = not giving a punishment that is due. Grace = giving a reward not due. And that is just what peacemakers do. We are supposed to come into situations and give peace where there is no peace, love where there is no love, comfort where there is not comfort and Jesus where there is no Jesus. Grace (peace) is a giving gift not a receiving gift.

If we can bring these peace blessings to others Jesus said in this verse that we will be called God’s kids. Not only can we claim our family heritage in Christ but we will even look like our Father God.

When all around us is chaos we can continue God’s message that He gave to the shepherds at Christ’s birth:

Peace on earth and good will to all blessed people..

And just before Christ went back to heaven He said:

Peace I give to you, My peace I give to you.

From the beginning to the end of Jesus’ life on earth and beyond into eternity there is the call to the peacemakers.

Here is a quote I found in a commentary:

“Peacemakers are happy. They love, desire, and delight in making peace. They maintain peace in peaceful situations and recover it when situations are in disarray. If peacemakers are blessed then woe to the peacebreakers!”

Wow, this do not disturb is serious stuff!

Pure + Heart = Happiness

Matthew 5:8 Blessed and happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

I have been studying the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5 and I’ve come to realize that what Jesus said in His 9 happy instructions are not that easy to live by. Well, they are not accomplishable without Jesus anyway. And getting ourselves out of the way and letting Jesus do it through us is challenging.

And number 6 in the way to happiness list is about actually experiencing being in the presence of God. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses from Psalm 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; and at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

I like being happy. I like having access to God. I need having access to God to experience all the joy I can.

It all boils down to having a pure heart.

Now you know how geeky I get with the Greek words. Well here “pure heart” is: katharos kardia (Hey, you don’t have to know how to pronounce it, just know that it is put together.) And what I found interesting is that these two words are put together 3 times in the New Testament:

             Matt. 5:8 - (That’s the beatitude.) Happy are those with a pure heart for they shall see God.

            1 Tim. 1:5 – But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.   

           

            2 Tim. 2:22 – Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.

“Pure” here means clean and free from the contamination of sin.

“Heart” here means your very core seat of your physical and spiritual life.

So “pure heart” is a life free from sin inside and outside. It is holiness. And only holiness can be in the presence of our holy God. My Sunday School Teacher Eddie says that everyday should be set apart and kept holy for God. So everyday we should be in His presence.

So how do we get rid of the sin in our lives that keeps us from being accepted into His presence? How can we everyday experience this happiness by being with God? Sorry, we can’t get rid of this sin on our own. We can’t clean ourselves up enough to have a pure heart. Oh rats! It’s not possible.

Is there no way to be in the happy company of God? Yes. Jesus, Himself, said that He was the way to the presence of the Holy Father.(John 14:6) We just let Him forgive us and clean our hearts. We let Him be the holiness for us. We just stand behind His pure heart as we go into God’s presence. With His forgiveness we have a pure heart too.

So here are 2 mathematical equations for geeky me:

Jesus + Forgiveness = Pure Heart

Pure + Heart = Happiness

The Source of Mercy

Blessed and happy are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7

The fifth happy instruction in the beatitudes deals with mercy. Mercy is an appeal used in judgment situations. It is when someone in an authority position shows compassion, love, and forgiveness toward someone undeserving of this benevolence.

In the first gospels of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, and Luke give eleven examples of people asking Jesus for mercy. In every situation when asked for mercy Jesus gives it. And we find out why Jesus was so giving in the mercy department. Oh yes, I know He is God and that is just what God does. But why?

The answer is ...

Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God's grace that you have been saved! 

The answer is …..

Because of His great big love for people.

We will always be shown mercy from our loving God even when (and especially when) we don’t deserve it.

Our lesson from Jesus in Matthew 5:7 is to pass out the mercy. When someone does not deserve our compassion, love, and forgiveness we are supposed to give it anyway. The offender doesn't have to meet our standard or earn it. We are supposed to just give it as Christ gave us mercy. And we get to walk away happy. I know this sounds all “Susie Spiritual” because it is not that easy for us to give out mercy to the undeserving and walk away happy.

Mercy doesn't come from us as easily as it does from Jesus. It's just like a Sudoku puzzle I was working with the heading “Very Easy.” It wasn't true. It was HARD. Finally I had to look in the back for help from the source of the infamous puzzle.

We have to make ourselves consciously be merciful. And it can be HARD to do. We have to go to the source of mercy and use that mercy to give to the unworthy. We have to depend on God to give us the want to for the mercy giving. And when we think about it in this way we realize just how much love God has freely unconditionally given to us so that we can give it to others. Not “Susie Spiritual” but “Rita Reality.”

 

Having a hard time forgiving?

Still angry at someone who has asked for your mercy?

Exasperated with someone who has hurt you and is unrepentant?

Can’t work up any love for the offender?

Need some help in the mercy department?

Go to the source.

He’ll give you all the mercy you need to handle the situation.

Then you can walk away happy. 

Happiness Guarantee

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

 for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6

The Bible talks a lot about being hungry and thirsty but not for food and drink. It says we are to crave a God following life.  

I saw a T-shirt that said, “Honey, hush about your diet. Just eat your lettuce and be sad.” And after I laughed I thought that there are many Christians on a diet from righteousness. They just go through life trying to fill themselves with anything but Christ. And they come away still hungry and sad.

Jesus said that if you want to be happy and satisfied with your life then earnestly and desperately seek righteousness. Righteousness here means right living that is God approved.

What kind of life gets Gods approval?

1.    A forgiven life – Romans 4:7 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.

2.    A transformed life – Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

3.    A gospel giving life – 1 Thes. 2:4 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

4.    A hopeful, patient, and prayerful life – Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

5.    A loving life – Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.

6.    A Bible studying life - 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 

Just as our body craves food and water for physical survival we are to crave God approved right living for spiritual survival.

I don’t want to just sit there and eat my lettuce and be sad. And I don’t want to just sit there and try to make it without Christ and be sad. I want to be one of the righteous ones. I want to be one of the approved ones.

God wants people who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

God likes these kinds of people.

 He approves of their lifestyle.

He gives His favor and blessings to them.

 And they are happy and satisfied.

This comes with His happiness guarantee.