Mar 21 2022

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Thanks to modern technology, when someone steps on our front porch the person's identity needn't be a mystery. In the U.S. alone, more than 120 million people have installed cameras and monitoring systems in their homes. This enables homeowners to decide whether or not to open their front door. We can even electronically open a door from a remote location to allow someone to enter even if we're not at home.

Revelation 3:20 portrays the image of Jesus knocking on the door to our hearts, waiting for us to invite Him in. Opening the door requires us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and surrendering our lives to Him. Then, Christ will take up residence in our hearts and become our Savior and friend.

Of course, in the same way that we might ignore a visitor who knocks on the door to our homes, we can ignore Jesus when He knocks on the door to our hearts—but we lose so much by doing so. We deprive ourselves of the benefits of having fellowship with God, and we miss out on the abundant life He offers to His followers. There are also eternal ramifications of not accepting Christ. Not only will we not have a relationship with God while we are on Earth, we could be eternally separated from Him.

Today, as we listen to the call of Jesus asking us to let Him in, we must decide how we will respond. He will wait patiently for us to invite Him in, but we can know Him right now if we welcome Him into our lives.

Jesus, I remember when I heard your voice calling to me. Thank you for tugging at my heart and allowing me to let you into my life. I will never regret choosing you. Help me to lead others to you, Jesus, so they can experience the grace you have offered to me. In your name, amen.

Mar 20 2022

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. :

Salt has been used as a flavor enhancer almost since the beginning of time. Every year, over 250 billion pounds of salt is produced. All living creatures require salt for life and health.

A dash of salt can improve the taste of a savory dish and bring out the sweetness of sweet things. Too much salt can ruin the flavor, and not enough makes the dish taste bland, like something is missing.

In Matthew, as part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells His followers that we are the salt of the Earth. We can understand what that means by studying the qualities of salt.

Salt, for instance, has more than 14,000 specific uses. When our words are placed in God's hands, the possibilities are endless.

Salt is valuable. Throughout history, it has been used as currency. Our salty words can add value to conversations and interactions with others. Without such saltiness, our words can be hollow and empty.

Salt is a purifier. When we speak pure and truthful words, they can bring peace to even the angriest and most hostile situations.

The Scripture warns that there is a danger in losing our saltiness, meaning the qualities that make us most like Him. Along with no longer being salty, we lose our influence and impact that we can make in the world.

In order to stay salty, we must remain close to the heart of the Father. With God's help and guidance, our speech can bring life to those around us.

God, before I speak today, please remind me to use salty words. It can be easy to type or say things that I haven't thought about. Help me to be mindful of how I talk with others. Use my words to bring life to others and help me to remember that I carry your presence with me everywhere I go. In Jesus' name, amen.
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