The
Salty Saints
Weekly Inspiration
Matthew 5:13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to
be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
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Lords.
Do you wonder why the
“christians” of our day make so many wrong choices, wrong decisions, and wrong
turns? The Lord saved me fifty-one
years ago; but it is so different in the church today. Lifestyles, habits and interests of the
church’s members have changed so radically that I’m not at home with many
professing believers any longer. As
I read statistics from the leading pollsters, it appears that the church is
almost exactly like the world, maybe a few steps behind. The church is actually leading the world
in some areas, like, same-sex marriage, abortion, and even in godless attire and
the pursuit of pleasure, wealth and fame.
It’s very simple what has happened.
We are desperately missing “the Mind of Christ” in our lives. To be a Christian has been transformed
from a total supernatural New Birth to a powerless mental affirmation.
Apostle James dealt with this very same religious weakness in his Epistle. Individuals were apparently promoting a
powerless conversion that was void of the miracle of total change. James stood against such religious
emptiness and said, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith
without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest
that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James
2:17-20)
The ministry of the
Holy Ghost in our experiencing the New Birth and in our Sanctification, that is
to normally follow the New Birth, is to manifest, “The Mind of Christ” in
us. We are invited to allow the
Spirit of Christ to transform our way of thinking. It is not a work of the flesh but a work
of the Spirit of God and Christ making us new creatures (a new creation) in
Christ Jesus. Paul said, “Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Phil 2:5). His mind in us will cause us to think
His thoughts and live His righteousness. You may say, “That will demand that we
are saints.” The answer is,
“His disciples are His saints”.
If we are not, something is wrong and the church has got to start
admitting that truth.
This beautiful place
of the “Mind of Christ in
us” does not happen easily. We
are babes in Christ at the beginning of our walk of faith, but we are commanded
to “desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow
thereby.”(I Peter 2:2) His grace does not just save
us, it cleanses and perfects us, but only if we “go on unto perfection”
(Hebrews 6:1). Paul to
the Philippians showed them the results of allowing the Holy Ghost to cause the
“Mind of Christ” to fill their mind until they thought His thoughts. This cannot happen but by the mighty
work of His Holy Spirit. He is
ready to do it if we totally surrender to Him and seek His face with our whole
heart.
Here is Apostle Paul’s description of that person where “His mind”
has been allowed to become “their mind.” “That ye may be blameless and
harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the
word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in
vain, neither laboured in vain.
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I
joy, and rejoice with you all.” (Phil
2:15-17)
The Spirit of God has made it plain to us that we are to have the
“Mind of Christ.” Anything
less is sub-New Testament and must not be tolerated in the “Church of the
Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the truth”(I Tim. 3:15). His Blood, the Blood of the only
begotten Son, is able to redeem us
from all iniquity and the carnal
self and to work this work in us.
“Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they
shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
Please pray with me, “Nothing shall stop me, Lord, until I
think Your thoughts.” “For we are
made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast
unto the end;”
(Heb 3:14) As we grow in His likeness and experience
“His thoughts in us” never forget it is maintained by His sacrifice for
us. John Wesley, the great
Methodist said,
“Every moment Lord, I
need
The Merits of thy death.”
Joseph