Speaking the Truth in Love

Salt & Light (Matthew 5:13-16)

I really liked the analogy comparing salt as the union of two parts, love & truth.

It seems love & truth can have opposite effects.

Na+ = Love

Sodium / Na+ (LOVE) is a positive ion and Na+ cannot be by itself but must be combined with many other ions. Likewise, love attracts all kinds of people. Love without truth is blind & will combine with any "truth" or doctrine in the form of blind zeal.

Cl- = Truth

Chloride / Cl- (TRUTH) is a negative ion and Cl- by itself can become a noxious and overwhelming poison gas. Likewise, truth by itself can be offensive & hurtful, unless it is combined with pure & sincere love.

NaCl = Salt of the earth

Opposites (positive & negative ions) attract. When Na+ combines together with Cl- it forms Sodium Chloride / NaCl, table salt, which we put into our food.

So when Love (Na+) & Truth (Cl-) come together you have perfect union, Salt of the earth (NaCl).

When it comes to chemistry I am more of a visual learner. Pictures really help me to visualize the interaction.

Love + Truth → Salt of the earth

But, when you add water, the equation is reversible meaning it can go in both directions:

(aq = aqueous/ "in water")

So is this also true?

Love + Truth + Water ↔ Salt of the earth + Water

Is this taking the salt analogy too far? Maybe not...

One interesting fact is that salt (NaCl) is exposed to water when it enters your mouth. In water, NaCl (Salt of the earth) ionizes aka separates again to Na+ (Love) & Cl- (Truth).

I know this was not in the sermon but this sparked my curiosity.

What does water have to do with salt?

Water / H2O (the red & white circles in the pictures above) is an important component in the equation. But what does it have to do with the passage from Matthew 5?

This reminds me of the passage in John 4 when Jesus talks with the Samaritan woman at the well about "living water":

¹³Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

I could only guess that "living water" is the Holy Spirit. Correct me if I'm wrong (Jdsn)

Ultimately, this would suggest that the Holy Spirit is essential when speaking the Truth in Love.

Anyway, I remember thinking when I first read the passage about Salt & Light, what good is salt besides giving a little flavor to food?

I thought, why did Jesus compare His disciples to salt & light?

Well this message really clarified my confusion...

A true disciple of Christ...

1. Influences the world

Salt is...

1. Palatable - salt gives flavor to food. The true disciple makes life desirable and beautiful.
2. Precious - in the days of Jesus, salt was EQUAL in value to gold. No kidding. Roman soldiers were paid in salt, a salarium (the origin of the word salary). The true disciple is precious in God's sight.
3. Preserving - salt preserves food from decay. The true disciple prevents corruption to sin.
4. Pure - salt that is mixed in with other things is bland & useless. The true disciple is free from corruption to sin & compromise with the world.

2. Illuminates the world (Ephesians 5:8-14)

Light is...

1. Conspicuous - light cannot be hidden; The true disciple does not hide his faith. It is obvious to everyone.
2. Contagious - light will shine; The true disciple's faith inspires others.

So now that I know what salt & light Jesus is talking about-- I can't believe I am saying this but it is amazing that we ARE salt & light! It is a plain fact not a command. I don't have to pretend to be salt & light or my hypocrisy will be exposed for what it is. I shouldn't be a reflection of light otherwise I would be a spiritual thermometer instead of a spiritual thermostat. The influenced instead of the influencer.

The true disciple should influence the world. The world should not influence the true disciple.

Phoebe Baker who visited us for only a short time had a noticeable impact on our EM. I didn't even talk with her personally yet I can still notice the positive changes in our EM. Yet, she is just one example of what a fully surrendered vessel of God can do. The only difference between someone like me for example and her is SURRENDER.

The true disciple who is fully surrendered to God has the power to change the world--for the glory of God!

I feel that Jesus is telling me through this passage that as salt & light I should be pure and sincere. Free from compromise with the world & with sin. Free from hypocrisy. To be pure & sincere.

God may we truly be pure & sincere as you have called us to be.

SALT & LIGHT

I remember JDSN's sermon about salt and light before this sermon.One thing that stuck into my head is that she explained to us that Jesus didn't say you could be, should be, will be the light of the world. Jesus said you are the light of the world and it was not a option or choice. The sermon I heard on Sunday, God defined what salt and light is and its purpose. God searched my heart and showed me how I approach people to share the gospel with anyone. God's intentions in me are to be pure and purposeful. I have realized how impure and ineffective I have been around my loved ones and my friends. God convicted me of how you start to change my tone, attitude and accent towards my worldly friends to blend in.The fear of rejection and failure is what The Spirit wanted me to tell him with honesty and have a sincere heart. He told me I am not to be influenced by the world but influence others.To give flavor like salt and be the light of this dark generation. I was pondering about how and what can I say to a non believer and show that my life can shine through Christ. It can encourage the people to come to know this God only when I surrender. It really challenged me to think what kind of God people think I worship. I wasn't willing to be that vessel that God is always looking for to use because of my self sufficiency. I knew deep inside that I was not worshiping the real God through my actions, I showed other people opposite of who God really is. When I flash the flashlight to the people's eyes instead of the chair it really got to me. Blind Zeal is what I thought when I was thinking and reflecting my actions and more but I can't seem to know now. As I listened to the sermon God really told me repeatly that it is SOOOO IMPORTANT TO KNOW GOD'S LOVE BEFORE ANYTHING it is such a necessity to understand how much God loves me and to know I am in God to do anything for Him in His Kingdom. Anything with out the love of God will serve the enemy. God desire and love to change and purify me was so... not able to be put into words~!

My Response to the Repentance Sermon

Until recently, I didn't think I was such a bad person. Back then, if you had asked me if I was a good person and gave me one of those cartoon tracts I would've shrugged and thrown it away. It is ironic that those tracts that I have been giving away to share the gospel were so applicable to me. I didn't think my sins were too serious. I was hardened against God and blind to my own sins.

I didn't realize the sinfulness of my heart until these recent months when God has been revealing all the wrong motives and hidden sins that I had in my heart.

I had the sin of pride. Subconsciously, I was always comparing myself to others and if I felt I was "better" than somebody it made me feel better. Pride became the scales that blinded me to all the other sins that were hidden in my heart. I denied those others sins existed because I knew if I acknowledged them then I would have to live with the reality that I am truly a sinful wretch and that there is really nothing good in me.

I was living a lie. The lie that I am a good person because my "good" works and the "insignificance" of my sins. I would never acknowledge it but in my proud heart I believed it. The deception and denial grew even deeper as I began to believe that lie was the truth.

As pride and deception took free rein over my life naturally I became more self-focused, self-conscious and selfish. I was more prone to depression because I would wallow in sinful self-pity when things wouldn't go my way. I became more critical and began condemning others in my own self-righteousness and blind pride.

I became very aware of my pride and hypocrisy in these most recent months. I didn't know how to react to it. So I wanted to run away. Run away from church and go back into the world where I believed I would be accepted and be free from condemnation and hypocrisy. I was wrong. The world and its ways seemed enticing at first and I felt good to be free from the conviction of sin. But something was wrong. The world was so wicked and I knew the deeper I go into it the more wickedness I will see. I would become just like them. I realized all I was doing was running away from reality. The reality of my sins.

Just two weeks ago something happened so I called Jdsn because I was really confused. I rarely talk with Jdsn unless it is something serious. She told me plainly what spirits were operating in my life and how I gave them a foothold with my sins. She also told me very plainly to repent. That was it! Repent! I realized it has been a long time I have truly repented for anything so I thought that is a good idea. I repented. I didn't feel anything. There was no sudden eureka moment of freedom. I just repented. It was not until the next day I realized I was free! Free from the evil spirits that have tormented me for so very long. I was genuinely joyful. God has forgiven me! I remember thinking God is really good and this time I sincerely know that is true! My relationship with God took a complete 180. I don't feel like running away from God anymore. Now I truly want to know Him. I only had a small taste of God's amazing grace but it really was amazing! So this is the joy of salvation that King David was talking about! It is incredible. For the first time in my life I realized God truly does love me.

To boil this long response down into one statement---here's the simple truth that I have learned in the past two weeks and from this sermon:

God always forgives the humbled sinner who truly repents.

Repentance ( 6-20-10)

The sermon of Repentance was very powerful because God showed me my motives why I repented before God. God wanted to tell me that He was not a tame master with a whip. But, I constantly bring a mask before God to wear. I repented before God because I feared that He will take away my blessings. I felt sorry and guilty before God because I directly disobey God and the right thing to do is repent. I was so blind and decieved how much I really loved the world. I was in denial to see what the world was really made up of because I loved to hold on to my pride, security, money, and reputation. I assumed I had a relationship with God because I assumed confessing my sin before Him would keep my relationship with Him. I am like King Saul confessing sin with such a parranoid surrender and thoughts instead of being like King David aknowleding how he offended God wit his sin. Repentance is knowing how I offended God and asking God for a willing heart to change and to sustain me to obey God the next temptation comes. Satan can not create anything to bring us down. The spirit of confusion come when I refuse to obey and accept God's truth. I was convicted that I pick the truths I want to hear Because it didn't fit into my wants and selfishness The spirit firmly said THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE in SUCH a tender way. I didn't want to admit or be honest about me because of my fear of failure and pride. THIS attitude totally insults God because it is a hidden way of saying " God you can't help me what I am going through." The Spirit crushed my heart as I was able to see HOW MUCH SUGAR COATED DUNG I was bringing to God but yet He still says HE LOVES ME......I have to constantly ask God to remind me that HIS LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL~ and He never fails to do so!

Sunday Seminar: Book of Matthew

Reminder:

For the next Sunday Seminar we will continue going over the Book of Matthew.

Read the 5 Major Discourses (teachings, sermons) of Jesus:

1. Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
2. Instruction for Evangelism (Matthew 10)
3. Kingdom Parables (Matthew 13)
4. Character of True Disciples (Matthew 18)
5. Teaching about End of Age (Matthew 24-25)

Write down on the handout or leave a comment with your insights or questions about the passages.

Have a great week! =)