You Are What Others Need
November 9, 2012    

       



       

            "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 by men."

           You are the light of the world. A city 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. ¹ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that
            they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."   
                                                                                         Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)
       This is astonishing.

       Jesus has just offered a list of people which includes lost causes, moral disasters, drug
       lords, grubby people, those who feel inferior, those who feel superior, those who are
       worldy, codependent, rejected and spiritual zeroes.   Yet he says they can have a
       happiness that transcends anything that anyone else on earth experiences.

       THEN Jesus tells us that it is THEY who will make the world work right!  It is they who
       are the preservative and spice and flavor that the world needs.  It is they who are the
       light by which others can navigate to the Good Life which God offers in Jesus Christ.

       Fascinatingly and frighteningly Jesus says that His follows, you and I (who can be found
       on Jesus list!) ARE (not should be, but ARE) the salt and light of the world.

       IMPLICATION:  You, not someone else, carry within you what others in your sphere of
       influence need.    Jesus blessed, yes even you, to be the exact blessing that others
       need.

       In a very real sense YOU ARE WHAT OTHERS NEED.   Take some time today to
       visualize what this could look like  at home, work, church or in the community.   

       “Lord, this humbles me.   Please take this “busy with the wrong things” person . . .
       me . . . and use me as YOU wish in the lives of others.    Amen”