27 April – Peter Gaut, Life Church Petersfied

Easter

With Easter just passed, there is a danger that the Church can focus more on celebrating the event instead of considering the reason that Jesus died and rose again. The Cross was a life changing event that changed all our lives and as Christians, we are the instruments that God uses to reach His World.

I was thinking of some suitable words that explain who we should be and how we should be seen by the World to demonstrate the love of Jesus and I couldn’t improve on Eugene Peterson’ paraphrase in The Message of Matthew chapter 5 verses 13 to 15:

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?

You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

Here’s another way to put it. You are here to be light, to bring out God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept.

We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light bearers, you don’t think I am going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – SHINE.

Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Can I suggest you ponder on these words as you enjoy all the Celebrations, flowers and gifts at this special time.