Lord, make my life a window for your light to shine through and a mirror to reflect your love to all I meet.
~Robert Harold Schuller (1926- )
And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
~Jesus, King of the Universe (in Matthew 5:2-14)
Peace. Hope. Pure, liquid, clear, crystal real peace and hope in Christ.
Oh my.
Yeah, we are blessed beyond measure. We are so blessed that we take on a seasoning and light that is poured onto and into us – to be poured out on others.
We are first blessed by being poor in spirit. That is, we come to understand that there is nothing in us (that is, in and of ourselves) that is really worth anything. And the poorer we (rightly) perceive ourselves to be, the richer the blessing He is able to pour out on our lives.
And then, on through every aspect of our lives He blesses us with every spiritual blessings. We are fully accepted in the Beloved. He even calls us (fully) His friend.
Why in the world are we ever afraid?
It is a terrible mystery how He actually tears us out of ourselves – killing the old and yet, somehow, leaving it alive and making us completely new in Him. It is something that only G_d could – and might even be inclined to – do. However profound the mystery, it is profoundly true.
We have, in Him, become fully alive and become dispensers of the saltiness, Light and fragrance of Jesus. We do not have to worry whether everyone has a taste for Him, or attraction to His Light or scent. Many will indeed reject Him. But it is Him they are rejecting. We no more need to cower at people’s rejection than a light-bulb cowers when someone squints.
AND, we have the gargantuan blessing of being there in that moment when a dying, broken soul catches His scent in us and says: Oh my! What is that smell? Oh, this is wonderful! Oh, can I have some more!?!! And then, that dying, broken soul lets out his own last breath and, by grace through faith, breathes in that first Living Breath – the first one of an infinite and forever respiration in the very Spirit of G_d.
WOW! We get the privilege of being there as eternity gets different in a wonderful way. Epic. Gorgeous fun! Our blessed Life in Him carries a hope that yields a peace-and-joy-become-strength beyond our ability to communicate in the natural.
Are we getting this beloved? It is simply goofy for us to be afraid. Is not cowardice, in the light of His presence merely insanity?
