Welcome to issue numero uno for me both here in the online world and in the offline world as well. I've probably bounced back and forth between one extreme which is only follow Matthew 10:14, and then the other which is we're supposed to make ourselves virtual doormats:
Matthew 5:39-41But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Both statements are made by the same Lord, and both are true.We are called to be the salt of the Earth.
Matthew 5:13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Salt works in two metaphorical ways. Number one, it covers the meat that it flavors to preserve it. This is a reflection of our Christian duty. We are to take the Word of God, the meat of God (so called by the Apostle Paul) and salt it giving our flavor everywhere we are able. This is the call for the Christian.However, as with any spice, you can have too much salt. You can also have too little. There is a healthy medium that gives the meat the greatest flavor.In this era of prophecy seminars, self-proclaimed Evangelists, and so on we have lost sight of the our great commission. We're more concerned with knowing the "best" and most efficient way to do things that we forget efficiency is not all about speed.
Jude 1:21-23Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
There is no one-size-fits-all way other than the one path through Christ. How you reach Christ might be through a Christian act of kindness or it might be through realizing that the world has a Creator and you're awed by the ability of that Creator. The message is for us to custom tailor out response to each person, approaching them in the best manner found through our own common sense and prayer to God. Jesus the Christ cared the most for the lost, leaving the entire flock to save just one. That is love, and that is love based on each unique individual, which is an awesome thing indeed.Since we are to mirror Christ(II Corinthians 3:18), we do the same. Yet, we do the same remembering that there were times when our Lord preached to the sinners, other times he challenged them, and still other times when he withdrew from them without a word.
Matthew 7:6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
So there are times to be salt and there are times to save every pearl for those who deserve them and can use them. Our job is to discern those times, and we have the help of the great Comforter, the Holy Spirit. We merely plant the seed or perhaps water it. God grows it, once you've planted the seed, it's between them and God
I Corinthians 3:4-9For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
So, fight the war for Christ helping winning souls where you can. Yet, be wise in this war, knowing when to withdraw and move to more sustainable and fertile ground.God Bless, I felt it laid upon me to jump into this a bit.
It was a pivitol realization for my life - be all I can be in my knowledge of the Lord. Soar.
