What About Jesus?

Last week, there was yet another violent attack here in the "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave". It makes even someone with the spiritual gift of faith just want to pack it all in, head for the hills, or at least the relative safety of home, and hunker down. That wouldn't be freedom, nor would it be courage.

Skipping ahead to something outside today's wisdom from Jesus, He said that He came to give us life - abundant life. His comparison of us here in Matthew 5 to salt, concerns a couple of things. Salt is a preservative and a flavor enhancer. For my majority carnivorous friends, try to imagine life without any fresh meat. I can only guess that even the most Spartan vegetarian likes a little extra flavor on their celery. If you are not a follower of Jesus and His teachings, I'd like to challenge you to imagine your world without anyone you know who honestly tries to. Would it possibly be rotten, tasteless, depressing, boring? Maybe you don't know anyone all that intimately; but could it maybe add some abundance to your life to spend some time getting to know them better?

This latest violent tragedy and the blabbering, blaming and bull surrounding it gives me a visual of a bunch of people stuck in a room with no light, trying to find the way out. At the same time, I can picture several beacons - flashing neons, an "exit" sign, a candle flame - and the doors each one illuminates; but which one really leads to freedom and fearlessness? With the last few years' terrors, some personal, some global, have you tried the same door or doors to get out of the dark? Have you avoided the "seasoning" offered by some Jesus follower for the staleness or sadness in your life?

Salt and Light
13 “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 underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.