27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
Luke 14 34-35 Being the Salt 07 Penetrating our world
📖 Luke 14:34-35
19Jan2020 - *Penetrating our world* - _Luke 14:34-35_ - Bible reading: _Daniel 6:1-4_
_Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men._
We have been studying the passage in Luke 14:34-35, on being salt but we must also look at Matthew 5:13 because, Jesus is calling us to be the salt of the earth. To be salt of the earth, there are four applications that we must consider. They are as follows.
1. We are fundamentally different
2. We must penetrate the non-Christian world
3. We must influence and transform the non-Christian world towards the kingdom of God
4. We must retain our distinctiveness
We have looked at what it means to be fundamentally different. We will now look at what it is to penetrate the non-Christian world.
To help us understand how this has to be done, we will look at the model of Daniel. _Daniel 6:1-4 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;_ Darius the king set up 120 satraps to administer his affairs over the kingdom. _(2) and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss._ There were three governors over the satraps and the satraps were to be accountable to the governors. The role of the governors was to represent the king and ensure that the interests of the king were looked after. Daniel was one of the governors and so Daniel was in a high position of responsibility. The principle here is that whatever position we may be in, we must undertake our task with great responsibility.
_(3) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm._ To penetrate the non-Christian world, we must distinguish ourselves in our performance. There is no room for slackness. We must ask God for wisdom in order to distinguish. The other principle here is that of having an excellent attitude, wherever we are. When we display these two characters of distinguished performance combined with an excellent attitude, we will be considered for promotion.
_(4) So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him._
Along with being responsible, distinguishing himself in his work and with an excellent attitude, Daniel also had the fourth principle, which is faithfulness. As we display these four characters, there will be many who will be against us. This is to be expected.
This is how our light will shine before men. _Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven._ Our enemies may seek to harm us but they will, one day, glorify God because of us demonstrating God to them. _I Peter 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation._
This way of penetrating the non-Christian world can only happen, when we are operating by the Spirit of grace. _II Corinthians 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you._
*Thought to ponder*
Are you penetrating the non-Christian world for Jesus?