Salt & Light
The biblical concept of “sin” has rightly been described as an aberration or deviation from the way things ought to be. Part of being “salt and light” in this world (Mt. 5:13-16) is to strategically say and do the kinds of things in any given situation that help to make it more like what God intended it to be. While it is true that God will one day bring everything in the universe in line with what is absolutely right (1 Cor.15:24-25), in the meantime we should seek to follow the lead of God’s Spirit to do what we can to see more of “his will” realized here on earth, like it now is in heaven (Mt. 6:10). So whether it’s in our homes, offices or neighborhoods let us thoughtfully and prayerfully exert a kind of redemptive influence that will move things from the way they are to the way they ought to be. It may not always be awarded and rewarded in this life, but God will be honored and you will give those around you a foretaste of Christ’s kingdom of which we pray they will one day be a part.
Pastor Mike
MARCH OFFER
At Focal Point, one of our defining goals in the teaching we strive to produce is accuracy. Every word of Scripture was inspired by God and demands our careful attention. But it isn’t enough to know each verse in context. The living Word of God must have practical implications for how we live and guide our responses to life’s circumstances—the joyous occasions and the heart-rending tragedies.
How do we respond, for instance, when we are confronted by our fears? When we hear the devastating news that it’s cancer? When we suffer through painful losses? When we find ourselves face-to-face with our own mortality? As a pastor for more than twenty-five years, I have walked with many people through difficult valleys. These are the moments when our faith is put to the test, and our theology either sustains us or goes out the window.
When you give a donation to Focal Point this month, I would like to send you a copy of a book that demonstrates the practical relevance of the Bible to our lives: My God is True: Lessons Learned Along Cancer’s Dark Road. As a 28-year-old newlywed and seminary student, Paul Wolfe was stunned by his diagnosis of cancer. This book chronicles his journey and the questions he wrestled with along the way.
Perhaps you are currently facing a situation that is challenging you to come to grips with the biblical truths you acknowledge in principle. I pray that when you experience uncertainty, doubt, or insecurities, you will remember the unchanging truth of God’s Word. He is faithful to provide strength for today and hope for tomorrow.
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