Today, among many other subjects, we’re going to talk about the fact that we’re called to be different from the darkness around us. We’re not to respond to the events of life like the rest of the world. And that includes the horrible act that took place two days ago. But we’re not to just complain and point out the problems. Instead, we’re to be salt and light to a broken world. How can we do that?
Welcome to “God’s Word Day by Day,” where I blog through the Bible in a Year. I hope you’ll join me every day. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here or subscribe and watch on YouTube.
Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 17 & 18
Psalm 106.32-39
Proverbs 25.11-12
2 Corinthians 5.1-21
Responding to the Evil We See
Isaiah 17 & 18:
If We’re Part of That Faithful Remnant
In these chapters, God continues to warn of coming judgments but reminds the people there will always be a faithful remnant (Is. 18.6).
As we watch what’s happening here in our nation, your nation, and around the world, and especially what’s happened over the last three days with the assassination of Charlie Kirk, we cannot lose hope and just throw up our hands. If we’re believers and part of His family, His faithful remnant, we’re called to be salt and light.
Philippians 2.14-15 says we are to:
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that [we] may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom [we] shine as lights in the world [emp. added].
How’s your light? Is it bright and clear? Or is it dim and hidden by junk (sin or the cares of this world)?
Do we just whine and complain like everyone else? Or do we point people to the truth and their need for the One who is the Light of the World?
Matthew 5 says:
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.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
If we are going to give hope to a lost and dying world, even in the midst of discouraging times and setbacks, we must point to the only source of real hope. Our hope cannot be in the government, the hope that our nation will wake up and turn back to God, or in any person or event.
While we should pray for our nation, our leaders, and our fellow citizens, but we cannot put our ultimate hope there. Our hope must be in the truths and promises of Scripture:
- God’s free offer of salvation to those who will believe,
- His “divine supports”to those who belong to Him,
- the reality of heaven,
- and the promise of eternal rewards.
Our saltiness may sting at times and the light in us will make us different, possibly even targets for God’s enemies. If you’re reading this in real time, what we witnessed on Wednesday has to break our hearts. Let’s be sure we pray for Erika Kirk and their family. But make no mistake the person who committed that horrible act and people rejoicing over it are God’s enemies. Whether they know it or not or whether they are simply useful idiots in the hands of the devil. And, if they don’t repent, God will deal with His enemies.
I’m not talking about the politics, I’m talking about taking someone’s life because you disagree with them.
But we shouldn’t be surprised. Romans 1 says:
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
The word translated “debased” refers to a mind that cannot discern right from wrong because it has been rejected by God after persistent rebellion.
29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them [emp. added].
Look at that last phrase. It’s at the bottom of the downward spiral of sin and depravity. We need to remember that when we hear people excusing, justifying, or horrifyingly applauding evil.
I don’t know what will happen in our nation or yours, but we need to be faithful to do what God calls us to do:
- Shine the light of God’s Word
- Be salt. Salt is a preservative, but it does sting at times. Yet, we can’t be afraid to call out evil. Jesus did, Paul did, the prophets did.
- Live faithfully (not perfectly) out of a desire to please God as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5.9.
- And pray.
1 Timothy 2.1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
And then we can take God at His word in Isaiah 3:
10 Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them,
for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him,
for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.
We can trust God in our own lives and trust Him to bring judgment in His way and His time on His enemies.
[Tweet “Are you willing to be salt and light as part of God’s faithful remnant? #saltandlight #soulsurvival”]
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 106.32-39:
Holding Out the Light, Not Taking Part in the Darkness
As the psalmist continues to recount the history of the Israelites, he includes these verses about their involvement with pagan religions, even taking part in the most detestable practices.
Verses 35-38:
35 But they mingled with the Gentiles
And learned their works;
36 They served their idols,
Which became a snare to them.
37 They even sacrificed their sons
And their daughters to demons,
38 And shed innocent blood,
The blood of their sons and daughters,
Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was polluted with blood.
In 2 Corinthians 6.14-17 Paul said:
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God …
17 Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord …’
Because we have not obeyed that command, like the ancient Israelites, we are often more a part of our culture than we are separate from it. We are so afraid of being called “intolerant” or narrow-minded or ignorant that we have accepted the world’s philosophy on many things or at least been intimidated into silence while unborn babies are being killed, history is rewritten, and truth becomes relative.
If we are going to be His light, the world must see us as different from the culture around us, not self-righteous and prideful, not mean-spirited and argumentative, but holding out to a hurting world the love of Christ and allowing them to see that living God’s way is the way to peace, joy, and blessings.
Proverbs 25.11-12:
Loving Rebuke, Part of Offering Light
Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear (v. 12).
Of course, there will be those who ignore the truth and even fling it back at us, but there will also be some who will listen if we allow God to help us speak the truth in love (Eph. 4.15).
2 Corinthians 5.1-21:
Always the Goal
No matter what is going on in the world, in our families, or in our circumstances, our goal should be the same as Paul’s:
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
We need to fear God and have a desire to please Him, rather than trying to please man. “The fear of man (worrying about what people think of us) brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe” (Prov. 29.25, emphasis added).
[Tweet “Is this your goal in life? #goaloflife #faith #soulsurvival”]Coming Up:
In the coming days, we will talk about presumptuous sins, how delayed obedience = disobedience, discover the way to perfect peace, look at the nature of strongholds, and ask the all-important question, “Where will you spend eternity?”
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
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