Words: World ~ Don’t Just Live In It

Here is the devotional:

Matthew 5:13-16
“’13 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.14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.'”

As we finish up this series on our words for the Uncommen man, we wanted to broaden the scope a bit. We are striving to be an Uncommen Husband, Dad, and Leader, but what have we been called to be to the world? God’s command is to be Salt and Light to the world as they may see your good deeds and they should glorify God. You are called to set the bar high and then take that into the world to have an influence in your job, community, country, and the world.

Being an example (salt & light) at your job is underrated as we have a need to fit into the business culture to stay employed or to advance. With over 35 years of working experience, I learned years ago that character is hard to teach. Your boss may say he/she is looking for a person with training or experience, but dependability and trust are just as important. Early in my career, I was at a review and my employer told me, “Do you know why I hired you all those years ago? I hire on character over experience any day.”

Being Uncommen in the community can range from being a good neighbor to serving at a local soup kitchen or something even larger. The point is, to be Uncommen, you have to be active in your community. In spite of all the happy selfies people post on social media, there are hurting people out there, and your city has tons of ways you can help. It’s a great family activity as well.

If there was ever a time when our country needed Uncommen Men to stand up and be an example, it is now. That statement is not political; it’s not an agenda; and it’s not meant to be an inspirational quote on Facebook. Our country needs us in a variety of ways, but just as this series is focused around WORDS, it needs us to be able to communicate with each other. Arguing is not communicating. I love the saying, “Better to be thought of a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt”.

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country, and dare I say it… the world!

Questions:

Are you Uncommen in your job, community, country, and the world? If not, why?
What was the last community service project you took part in?
Would you be willing to serve more if you did it with other people?

Challenge:

If you are watching our way of life crumble on TV and social media, you may be part of the problem. Change can’t happen from the sofa. It requires us to be willing to get outside our box and serve others. Only by serving others will our world see an example of what to be like and that example is Uncommen.

Here are the scriptures referenced:

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.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:13‭-‬16 KJV

Here is Stu’s thoughts:

Did you know this world is jacked up?

Did you also know that we Christians hold the key to a dying world?

The world is jacked up because it has lost sight of its Creator. Yet we have the Creator in our hearts via the Holy Spirit.

The key is in us yet we keep striving to change the world to fit our standards through the use of the wrong words.

You will never change a person’s mind about the Creator if you are constantly belittling them or cursing them out because of a sin they have committed. Heck just by cursing you have proven to them that you are no different than they are😮

We are called to be the light to the world. To point them to the Creator of all. Some of y’all’s light shine bright in church and gets turned off Monday Morning when you get to work. I include myself in this one! I can be downright mean if I’m under too much stress to get the loads finished.

But I go back and apologize within 10 minutes. Usually it’s just I’m sorry for yelling earlier

But here is the gravity of the spiritual implications to my words…

They KNOW I believe in God. They know I have this blog. They know D and I read our Bible apps together sometime during the day and will get together and pray. But just ONE negative word negates all that!

That the power of the tongue right there.

We are also called to be the salt of the earth.

Even Paul reiterates the importance of the spoken word…

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Colossians 4:6 KJV

Salt is a preservative. It also an essential nutrient for the human body.

No wonder both Jesus and Paul referenced salt

Can we be both the light and the salt?

I believe that we can.

But it requires us to look at the world different. We must see it through different eyes and heart.

This world is screaming for a Savior!

Jesus is in Heaven seated at the right hand of the Father. So that rules Him out…sort of.

We are also His hands and feet. We are to do good deeds that bless others. We are speak life into people that will bless them. We are to heed the prompting of the Holy Spirit and talk to those people God puts in your path.

Trust me Christian…

We are the only Jesus some will ever see!

Carry yourself as such!

Don’t just live in the world…change it!