Mark 9: :47 ...And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell. Jewish custom would not legally allow them to maim themselves. Forbidden. The hyperbole speaks the power of Divine Grace. No way we can enter the Kingdom of God unguarded by grace. Either God shows up and transforms us or we lose the battle with the flesh. For what do we exchange our lives?
Do you notice if the salt is bad? Good salt looks the same as bad salt. We look good but we can be just as corrupt as useless salt. And how will you make tasteless salt salty again? Mark 9:50 is how: Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. Have salt in yourselves. Preserving and Purifying. Refining Repentance. Denying yourself to follow Christ. Suppressing pride, jealousy, ambition and being at peace with all...and how do we do that? Romans 7:8 says that living by the moral law produced in me more coveting, more jealousy. What stirs within me? Romans 7:10 says: "the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death." What law is at work in me? Is it my energy or the Energy of Christ at work? What is my life producing? Romans 7:24 "What a wretched man I am!" Who will rescue me? Thanks be to Divine Grace Who delivers me to make me worth my salt.
"If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." My heart is tender toward the underdog lately. I'm not sure why, but God is working on my heart and giving me more and more compassion for them... or should I say "us".
ReplyDeleteMuch love, my Salty Sisters!
Bev, you have hammered on my brain to day the words-"Have Salt in Yourselves".
ReplyDeleteThe charge leaves me breathless, humbled, and challenged. Last year we walked,crawled and cried our way through painful family issues. It isn't resolved the way I know Christ has planned for us yet. Today we are spending time with the one who has caused us such pain and heartbreak.
I discovered this year the healing power of tears. It is no coincidence that tears are mainly composed of salt. Salt has healing, soothing properties. It keeps our eyes soft, supple and perfectly hydrated. Tears wash away dust, foreign objects, and keep our vision bright.
I am thinking of salt as I get ready for the day.
I visualise myself with a giant salt shaker, sprinkling myself liberally with salt as the flakes flutter around me like white fluffy snow. I don't want any bad salt in my life. I want the purity of snow-white salt, seasoning my heart, my thoughts and my words.
Thank you for your prayers, dearest pearls. You are so precious, the luminescent light of Jesus reflects of each of us as we are strung together by the Word.
p.s. I changed my screen name, to Jan. I hope it wasn't too confusing. Our small bible study/scripture memorization group started a blog, and I thought it would be easier. :)
"And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" 34But they kept silent..."
ReplyDeleteI can imagine Him asking me questions, knowing...just like He already knew what the disciples had been discussing. And yet, He asked them point blank.
I can almost hear Him ask me...
"Why do you doubt me?"
Lord, I am guilty of unbelief. Help, thou, my unbelief."
"Why don't you ask me?"
Lord, I am guilty of listening to others instead of listening to You. Your Face, Lord, will I seek.
"Little one, why are you afraid?"
Lord, the way is dark and I have no light to guide me. Lord, forgive me for getting ahead of You. You are my Light and my Way.
"Beloved, why do you carry your burdens?"
Lord, I have been too overwhelmed by the mountain in my way. Forgive me for not looking up to You and asking You to bear my burdens.
You, Lord, know every doubt, every burden, every fear, and every act of unbelief that I have hidden in my heart. Nothing is hidden from You. Help me, Lord, to remember that You are with me. That You are able to bear all my burdens. That I am completely in Your care. At all times. I thank You, Lord. Always ask me the questions needed to reveal my need.
I had to come back and post about my day yesterday. I read the readings and something came to mind that I needed to pluck out of my life. Instead of writing a comment here, I immediately deleted a computer game that has sucked up a ridiculous amount of time. I actually felt freer! By 10 o'clock, I had a phone call from my son who wanted me to join him in playing another game! I was his "sure thing" to get ahead of Laura. I reminded him of his words to me earlier of what a colossal waste of time it is (kindly) and then I said, "Get thee behind me Satan." No, not really but jokingly--I had to think it was a direct attack, even if it was my son who said it. Happy to report 24 hours later I'm still game-free. Love, Annette
ReplyDelete