Getting to the heart with salt and light

What I like about Jesus Christ, is his ability to get to the heart of the matter. Since first reading the Gospels many years ago, I always loved the way he engaged with the people. Whether it was someone who came to him with a deep need or question , or the religious leaders attempting to cause trouble, Jesus had a gift to see below the surface, and shake the conversation up a bit.

As I have been slowly making my way through the book of Luke, it has been awesome to be reminded of the humanness of Jesus, as well as the way he could lovingly expose the darkness of peoples hearts, and give life to people who had been isolated. The more I read, the more I am forced to reflect on my own agenda when I come to God,  and how I can be more like Jesus in the way I process and communicate with people around me.

• Luke 8:42-48  While Jesus was on his way the crowds almost crushed him. A woman who had been bleeding for many years, could not find any help and no doubt had been excluded from everyday community because she was “unclean”, managed to get close enough to touch Jesus. She was healed and had the opportunity to share that with everyone. The most awesome part of this encounter was that Jesus calls her daughter and gives her peace. Who knows how long it had been since she had been spoken to like that, or had any peace? Everyone in that crowd probably knew her and her story,  now they see she i a new person
• Luke 10:25-37  An expert in the law asks Jesus about eternal life, which leads to the question of who is my neighbour.  Jesus then shares the story of the Good Samaritan. In the end we are all shown how we can serve the people around us, including people who we would deliberately have nothing to do with. What an inconvenience right?
• Luke 13:10-17  Again we see the heart of Jesus as he heals a woman but this time on the Sabbath. (Here’s trouble!!) The Synagogue leader who witness’s this is in awe and celebrates- NOPE! Instead he goes on a rant about the time of  work and how people should come and get help on those days only. Jesus doesn’t react but instead names exactly what’s really going on and calls the leaders hypocrites. Verse 17 says – While his opponents were humiliated, all the people were delighted with the wonderful things Jesus was doing.

Salt and light. That’s what I see in the way Jesus communicates with people that come into contact with him. Shining light where there is darkness so growth can hopefully take place, and adding flavour to situations where there is bitterness and sometimes pain.

So what can we learn from all this? Check your heart when approaching God, you can go to him with confidence but be honest, it will make the whole process a little easier;-). And don’t react to people. Discern what’s happening, be quick to listen and slow to speak. The world is full of people who are pretty fast to get angry, and that can get in the way of healing and growth. And practice speaking life into peoples situations.

Any thoughts on what I have written, leave a comment.