CALLING ALL SALT, CALLING ALL LIGHT!
Greetings church family-
In the early hours of Saturday, June 14, 2025, a man impersonating a police officer entered the Brooklyn Park, Minnesota home of former Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. He took both of their lives. They were survived by their two adult children. Minnesota law enforcement concluded that the crime was politically motivated. Someone saw the Hortmans as their enemies, and viewed murder as acceptable.
This act was disturbing and heartbreaking!
On Wednesday, September 10, Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative activist, was speaking on stage at Utah Valley University. While responding to a question during a Q&A, an attempt on Kirk’s life was taken. Hours later, Kirk lost his life. Kirk was married and had two very young children. At the time of the writing of this devotional thought, neither the perpetrator nor motive had been discovered. At the very least, someone saw Kirk as their enemy and viewed murder as acceptable.
This act was disgusting and gut-wrenching!
It is seemingly daily that we are reminded that the world we live in is dark and decaying. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he gave the imperative in Matthew 4:17b, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Some 2000 years later, we desperately need for Jesus’ kingdom to once again come near. The truth is, Jesus’ kingdom HAS come near, by way of his Holy Spirit-filled believers. In the midst of a decaying world, Jesus said to his believers back then, “You are the salt (a preservative) of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13a) Against the backdrop of a dark world, Jesus said to his believers back then, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14a)
I have no doubt in my mind that Jesus, through the Spirit and the Scriptures, is saying this again. To you. To me (help me Lord). To us! Right now, in 2025, Jesus is (similar to an APB going out) calling all salt and calling all light. In a world where vengeance against your enemy is acceptable, Jesus is calling you and I to preserve His love and illuminate by His truth, the only eternal truth. Not to get even with our enemies, but to love them and pray for them.
John Stott, theologian and author, shares a powerful quote for the church today. It says, “We should not ask, ‘What is wrong with the world?’ for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather we should ask, “What has happened to salt and light?'”
Calling all salt! Calling all light! It’s time to be present in the world while refusing to be of the world. This is how the world “may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16b)
Let us keep the families mentioned above in prayer. In our prayers, may we ask that they may either come to know or continue to know that God is for them, God is with them, and God loves them!
Blessings!
Pastor Chris
