Phil Rowlands

Hello, my friends!

Have you ever felt like you're swimming against the current in this world? Like you're standing out in a way that's not always comfortable? Well, let me tell you, that's not a bad thing at all. In fact, it might just mean you're living the life God has called you to live.

Today, I want to chat with you about something Jesus said in His famous Sermon on the Mount. He told His followers, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Now, I know what you're thinking – blessed and persecuted in the same sentence? That doesn't sound right! But stick with me, because there's something beautiful and powerful in these words.

Friends, when we truly live out our faith, when we let the light of Christ shine through us, it's bound to stir things up. The world around us might not always understand or appreciate it. In fact, Jesus goes on to say, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” It's not about looking for trouble, but about standing firm in your faith even when it's not the popular thing to do.

Now, don't get me wrong – I'm not saying we should go out there picking fights or trying to offend people. That's not what this is about at all. It's about living authentically for Christ, even when it means going against the grain of society. It's about choosing to follow God's ways, even when the world tells us to do otherwise.

You know, the Apostle Paul had something to say about this too. In 2 Timothy 3:12, he wrote, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” It's not a maybe, folks – it's a will. But here's the thing – this isn't meant to scare us. It's meant to prepare us and, believe it or not, to encourage us.

Think about it this way – if you're facing opposition because of your faith, it might just mean you're doing something right! You're living in a way that's noticeably different, in a way that reflects Christ. And that, my friends, is something to be proud of.

But let's be clear – we're not talking about suffering because we've done something wrong or because we're being obnoxious in the name of religion. Peter addresses this in 1 Peter 4:15-16, saying, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”

Friends, when we face persecution for truly living out our faith, we're in good company. Jesus Himself was persecuted. The early apostles faced incredible hardships. And throughout history, countless believers have stood firm in their faith despite opposition. It's not about being a martyr or having a persecution complex. It's about being willing to stand up for what we believe, to live out our faith authentically, even when it's not easy.

But here's the incredible thing – when we face these challenges, God doesn't leave us to face them alone. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:14, “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” In those moments when we feel the pressure of the world against us, that's when God's grace shines brightest in our lives.

Remember, my dear friends, that any suffering we face in this world is temporary, but the glory that awaits us is eternal. As Paul puts it in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Keep your eyes on the prize, folks!

Now, let's shift gears a bit. Jesus doesn't just talk about persecution in this passage. He goes on to say something equally profound: “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” What does He mean by that?

Well, in those days, salt was incredibly valuable. It was used to preserve food, to add flavour, and even as a form of currency. When Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, He's saying we have a preserving influence on the world around us. We're here to add flavour, to make a difference, to slow down the process of moral decay in our society.

And light? Well, that's pretty self-explanatory, isn't it? In a world that often seems dark, we're called to shine. We're called to point the way to Christ, to be a beacon of hope and truth.

But here's the catch – salt is only effective when it's different from what it's seasoning. Light is only noticeable when it stands out from the darkness. That means we're called to be distinctively Christian in the way we live our lives. We're not called to blend in, but to stand out – not in an obnoxious way, but in a way that draws people to Christ.

Friends, this calling to be salt and light isn't just a nice metaphor. It's a real, practical calling that should shape how we live our lives every day. Think about it – when salt loses its flavour, it becomes useless. When light is hidden, it can't fulfill its purpose. In the same way, if we compromise our faith or hide it away, we're not fulfilling our purpose as followers of Christ.

So, what does it look like to be salt and light in our world today? Well, it might mean speaking up for what's right when everyone else is staying silent. It might mean showing kindness to someone who others have written off. It might mean forgiving someone who's hurt you deeply, even when the world says you have every right to hold a grudge.

But let me tell you, it's not always easy. Sometimes, being salt and light means facing opposition. It might mean being misunderstood or even rejected. That's where we circle back to what Jesus said about persecution. When we truly live as salt and light, we're bound to ruffle some feathers.

You know, I'm reminded of a story from the early days of the church. In Acts 4, we read about Peter and John being arrested for preaching about Jesus. The religious leaders told them to stop, but do you know what they said? “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” They couldn't help but shine their light, even when it got them into trouble.

And here's something amazing – the more the early church faced persecution, the more it grew. Tertullian, an early Christian author, famously said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Now, I'm not saying we should go looking for persecution. But we shouldn't be surprised or discouraged when it comes our way because of our faith.

Instead, we should see it as an opportunity. An opportunity to show the world what it really means to follow Christ. An opportunity to demonstrate the power of God's love and forgiveness. An opportunity to shine even brighter in the darkness.

You see, when we face opposition with grace and love, it can have a powerful impact. People might reject our message at first, but they can't deny the change they see in our lives. They can't ignore the peace we have in the midst of trials, or the love we show to those who persecute us.

Friends, this is what it means to be a people of extraordinary influence. We're not called to change the world through political power or force. We're called to change it through love, through grace, through living out our faith in a way that's undeniable.

Think about Jesus' words in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Our goal isn't to draw attention to ourselves, but to point people to God. When we live as salt and light, we're not just making the world a better place – we're showing people the way to eternal life.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. “I'm just one person. How much difference can I really make?” But let me remind you of something Jesus said. He talked about faith as small as a mustard seed being able to move mountains. Never underestimate the impact you can have when you're living for God.

Every act of kindness, every word of truth spoken in love, every moment of standing firm in your faith – it all adds up. You might not see the results right away, but you're making a difference. You're preserving what's good in this world. You're pushing back against the darkness. You're pointing people to Jesus.

And here's the beautiful thing – you're not alone in this. We're all in this together, as the body of Christ. When we stand together, when we support each other, when we encourage each other to keep shining our lights, that's when we can really make a difference.

So, my friends, don't be discouraged if you face opposition because of your faith. Don't be surprised if the world doesn't always understand you. Remember, you're called to be different. You're called to be salt and light. You're called to be a person of extraordinary influence.

Be blessed today my brothers and sisters and remember this: the life we're called to live isn't always easy, but it's always worth it. When you face opposition because of your faith, don't be discouraged. Instead, see it as a sign that you're making a difference. You're the salt of the earth, preserving what's good and adding flavour to a bland world. You're the light of the world, shining brightly in the darkness and pointing the way to Jesus. So, stand firm, shine bright, and keep seasoning the world around you with the love of Christ. The impact you're making is more significant than you could ever imagine. And one day, when we stand before our Heavenly Father, we'll see just how much our faithfulness has mattered. Until then, keep being salt and light, my friends. The world needs you more than you know.

Phil