My Thoughts and Reflections

"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." Matthew 5:13 (NIV) How often I skip over this verse when I'm spending time reading Jesus' words during his "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew.  I often gravitate towards the verses that follow it telling me that we are the light of the world and that we should allow our light to shine before others so that they can see my good deeds in order to glorify God.  However, how often do I think of myself as the salt of the earth? When I do think about this, I am reminded about how I have been chosen by God to be who I am and where I am.  I can choose to be who God wants me to be and do what he wants me to do, or I can choose against that and become worthless!  I do not want to become like tasteless salt that is only worthy of being trampled on.   I want to be...

“Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you.  Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.””  – Matthew 28:18-20 (CEB) It has been a common misconception in the church today that evangelism is meant to be left for the “professionals,” i.e., pastors, missionaries, and professional evangelists.  What a sad misconception!  This command recorded at the end of Matthew’s gospel is Jesus’ last command to his disciples.  At that time, those who were present at Jesus' ascension were the church.  Therefore, Christ’s command wasn’t just for those who are in church ministry, but for the entire church!  Did you notice Jesus saying to, “go and make disciples?”  He isn’t just intere...