URC Daily Devotion Thursday 25th April 2024
Reading Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said: ‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Reflection
I have a confession to make, there have been several times in my life when I have felt that I have been spending too much time doing churchy type things. I can particularly remember this at one point during my time in Haydock in Lancashire back in the 1990’s. Someone was giving me directions for somewhere and doing so by navigating by the location of pubs and then stopped themselves, realising who I was, proceeded to give me directions via various church buildings.
That always makes me chuckle but prompted me to found the ‘Old Congs’ Football Club’ (re-forming a team from sixty years previous) which for quite a few years brought together a great bunch of people from the local neighbourhood. As well as football and friendship there were opportunities to share faith. Some came to faith or were supported or contributed in other ways.
During the COVID lockdowns we were reminded that the Church is people not buildings, but don’t we easily fall into bad habits saying we are going ‘TO’ church and obsessing about our programmes and events? The words of Jesus about being salt and light imply affecting the whole of life so that others would give glory to God.
It is a privilege, in my current ministry, to be in partnership with the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) who are rightly encouraging us to grow our discipleship for when we are gathered AND when we are scattered. Their 6M’s are inspiring me at the moment: modelling Godly character, making good work, ministering grace and love, moulding culture, mouthpiece for truth and justice, and messenger of the Gospel.
Being Salt and Light is no zero-sum equation, there is no either/or in the economy of God’s mission. Evangelism is definitely a discipleship not a training issue. Maybe today you will find fresh impetus and inspiration for living out and your faith and sharing it when led?
Prayer
God of good news,
may my life be like salt and light,
not hidden away but in plain sight.
I thank you that Jesus did not hide away
in the safety of the religious institution
but became involved with life’s messiness,
being attacked for his associations.
Make me more like Jesus
where I am and where you are leading me.
Help me to know that you are with me and go before me.
Amen