13 “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.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Dear God, I read something recently where someone was asking what a church that is prepared to be your bride looks like. When I think of the answer to that question I think about something like this. Is a church salty? Does a church shine a light in its area?
What about me in my personal life? Am I salty? Does light shine through me? What does a salty person look like? What does me being the light of the world look like?
Questions like this were so much easier to answer before I had children. I am amazed at how much parenting has humbled me and broken me down. Now, I start to not only see the light that I shine through my personal life, but also through the reflection of my children. Am I your light to them? Am I salty to them? I interact with them so much more than I interact with people outside of the house, so I think they get to see and experience so many more of my mistakes than others do. I can conceal my mistakes from others outside of the home easier than I can conceal them from my family. Comparing my life to a piece of currency like a $1 bill, the world sees me like we all see a $1 bill. Perhaps new and crisp. Perhaps old and wrinkled. Perhaps a little abused. But that is just the birds-eye view. What happens when we look at the $1 bill through a microscope? We see a lot of germs, microbes, and disease that will disgust you. I think that’s how my family sees me compared with others outside of the home. They get to see me up close.
Father, help me to be salt in every area of my life. Help me to be a beacon for you in every area of my life. When my children and wife see my failures, help me to use that as an opportunity to talk about your grace. Help me to represent you in a way that is authentic and draws others into you. Help me to parent my children. Help me to husband my wife. Be glorified in me.
Emails to God 