Stay Salty and Set Many Tables For My Enemy's

Sunday’s Monday

I thank God for giving me this week! Pat and I enjoyed a nice visit with the folks at Davie Medical Center, even driving in the early morning rain failed to damper our joy. All stiches were removed and crutches were put aside. I thank God for Pat’s high tolerance to pain (something which I do not have) which is aiding in her recovery. God allowed us the privilege and honor to serve some family members with a fall cookout Saturday and we had a great time. My God is AWESOME!

My thoughts have been spinning all week as to what God wanted said today. As I stated earlier God has blessed us so much this week, there was plenty to choose from. Then as it usually happens God did a change up on me and gave me a topic that I would have never thought of. It may be because of the feelings of joy, love and peace that I had after our cookout yesterday, however this could easily be me rationalizing God’s work. As of today, my average for accurately rationalizing God’s reasoning isn’t very good, ergo I pray that something here will help you get through today with joy from my Lord. The subject that God has given me today is “stay salty and set many tables for my enemy’s”. Now I am no scholar or authority on this subject therefore I’m writing from my hearts interpretation of what I understand today. The first thing for me was to understand the biblical use of the word salt. Wikipedia.org; the Bible contains numerous references to salt. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification. Based on this I find Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV), 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. As a believer, I’m to walk in the midst of those that don’t know or recognize God “as God” in an attitude of thanksgiving, joy and praise to my Lord and savior. Always encouraging, complimenting, and enlightening them with the pure truth of Jesus. I am salt! Living in the sweet gifts of the Holy Spirit allowing them to be manifested by God into the lives of others through me. It is God that brings all of this to the table because as a human I don’t have and can’t manufacture those things which would make me gracious. I’m smart, in my own way however I greatly lack in wisdom, especially when it comes to the wisdom of God and for this reason God is prepared to do it for me, if I will allow Him. I am the salt of God, set upon His holy table for all the world to taste and desire to worship Him. In Psalm 23:5 (ESV), You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. This is what and where my actions come into play. God has prepared a table before me, set with His body (bread), His blood (drink), and His word (meat), and His will along with His way are able to sustain me between meals (private time with Jesus). Today I’m salt (pure) in the eyes of God’s set openly on His table to encourage others to come and enjoy the goodness of God. The secret for being salt on God’s table is really quite simple, as God requires nothing that isn’t given with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I am constantly and consistently learning daily how to better get me out of the way so God can do what needs to be done. I think about how privileged I am to be on God’s table rather than outside looking in, skeptical, miserable, and so lost I cannot see. But; and this is a big “BUT” God has given me a chance, challenge, and commitment to be gracious in speaking to people with His wisdom, uplifting, comforting, and encouraging them with His word. I have repeated hundreds of times and tried my best to daily live something I heard my Pastor Joe Dillard say years ago; “it should be “my” mandate to leave everyone and everything better than I found it or them.” The battle cry for living that I’ve had since I can remember (even while I was lost) is, I like happy people and I try hard to make people happy. It used to work for everyone except me, then God fixed that problem with His love and nothing has been the same since. Thank you Jesus!

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

COMMENTS / ENCOURAGEMENT WELCOMED; 09/17/2017