Dear Church Family,
I recently had someone with whom I had limited close contact tell me they might be infected with the Covid virus. I immediately switched into self-quarantine mode. Thankfully about 24 hours later they had tested negative. That heavy sigh you heard came from me. I was thrilled they did not have the virus and I certainly do not want to be one who might spread the virus to anyone. I and the church will continue to keep others and myself as safe as possible.
At the same time I want to be infectious – just in a different way. Despite what you might think, I have not lost my mind. Music writer David Regier inspired this when he tweeted, “Turns out that asymptomatic Christianity doesn't spread either.” When I read that back in June I immediately thought of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount where He told His disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the
light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put
it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Can you see in these four verses the call for God’s people to be infectious? First note the goal of our infectious behavior is the glory of our Heavenly Father. This serves as the motivation for our all do as 1 Corinthians 10:31 directs, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.”
Second, Jesus declares as a fact that all who trust in Him as Savior and Lord are salt and light. As salt, we serve as a godly influence in our fallen world and for the good of the kingdom of heaven. History shows the change God’s people bring as they live out their high calling of living to the glory of God. Last night’s steak dinner tasted delicious due to the application of the right amount of salt. As light, we reflect the glory of God who is light. Through our acts of love and mercy to others we give vivid testimony of God’s love to us. Sin has darkened our world and brought gloom. By faith in the Light of the World, we rise up, per Isaiah 60:1-3, and “His glory appears over you.” Then, “Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
While I hope no one gets the Covid virus, I yearn that all of us will be infectious as we live as salt and light to the glory of God. Pray and seek opportunities to speak the truth and extend grace to others.
Living by grace to His glory,
Pastor Gillikin