“What could I do?'” A familiar exclamation from humanity in difficult times that echoes the fear and despondency of an upside-down world.  It stands in stark contrast to the cry, what should I do, where action is implied and rather reflects a hopeful vision of the future.

We need only look around us to see that the world is topsy-turvy.  Any respectable historian can confirm that it had always been so.  Just like today, world powers and leaders over many centuries have been capable of destroying or at least complicating the lives of individuals.

What should and must we do?  In despondency and desperation, we reach for the Source of our life force – the Word of God with its numerous promises of provision and deliverance.  Everyone who walks the path of life in the footsteps of the Nazarene knows that deliverance sometimes seems slow, and quick solutions, urgently sought, linger.

In the time we wait for what we would think would make our lives so much better, we read in Psalm 37:

Trust in the Lord, and do good; 
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. (37:3)

Typical in the Hebrew tradition of repetition with a slightly different emphasis so that the listeners can remember the message, the following verses expand the idea of calm trust.

Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

It is a call to calmness and faith.  Ancient words, constant through all the ages, manifest the power of truth and trust in our lives today.  David “talks” to his soul and “roars” within himself about the turmoil that wells up.

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance. (Psalms 42:5 and 43:5) 

In our study of Matthew, it is blissfull to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear the confirmation of these words to us.  David lived almost a thousand years before Jesus in his earthly body.  Jesus affirms his words to trust in God and do good.

How do we do it?  Action in faith is sometimes the kind of being quiet and trusting.

Salt and Light.

After the Beatitudes, which are essentially cries of blessedness in any life circumstance, Jesus brings his teaching closer to the character of each individual in the Kingdom of God.

The character of discipleship is explained in the metaphors of salt and light. It points to the influence of Christianity for good when it invades secular society.

Salt was very valuable in the ancient world.

One of the characteristics of the world we live in is the lowering of standards—honesty, diligence in work, care, moral norms.  Everywhere there is temptation for compromise, laziness, corruption, and theft.

As Christians, we maintain the Kingdom standard of absolute purity in speech, behavior, and even thoughts.

Salt was and is a common preservative.

Salt preserves against decay.  If the Christian is to be the salt of the earth, he must have a certain antiseptic influence on life.  He must be the cleansing agent in any society in which he lives.  It makes it easier for others to be good.  Never underestimate how powerful an atmosphere of honesty and goodness is.

Salt is used for flavour.

Food without salt is bland and tasteless and even repugnant.  Christianity is to life what salt is to food. It gives flavour to life.

Uselessness is disastrous.

Jesus commands his followers to be light in the world just like He is. (John 9:5).  Jerusalem is described as a light to the nations.  We, the Church of Jesus, are the New Jerusalem.

No one lit their own light.  In the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, the light of the Lampstand (the Church) is lit by the Holy Spirit (oil).  The light is Christ, not us.  We carry the light of Christ.  Our light is lit in the presence of God—the Holy of Holies.

A lamp in a house in old Judea was shaped like a gravy boat, filled with oil in which the wick floated.  It was not so easy to light a lamp in the days when there were no matches.  Ideally, it was carefully maintained, and therefore, the oil was carefully scrutinized.

A light is a guide to illuminate the path.  It is our duty to take the position that supports the weaker brother, to lead where the less courageous will follow.  The world needs leaders.  There are people waiting and longing for a leader to take a stand and do the thing they would not dare to do themselves.

A light warns against danger.  Christians illuminate the path of life with Kingdom character and warn against the dangers.

Just sing the song from our Sunday School days:

Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light, 

Like a little candle burning in the night; 

In this world of darkness, we must shine— 

You in your small corner, and I in mine.

Or Jesus wants me for a sunbeam…

People must see our good works. We must be known for goodness.

In Greek, there are two words for good:

 • agathos – good quality 

• kalos – not only good but also beautiful and attractive.

The word used here is kalos.

Good works should attract attention, not to ourselves but to God.

¹⁴ Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,  (Philippians 2:14-15)

Just be yourself in Christ. The great world upheavals are God’s realm.  He is in control.

I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. (Ezekiel 39:21)

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!  (Psalms 46:11)

It will do no good to worry about world politics.  Our leaders continue in the tradition of the Roman emperors.  They think they are God themselves and fall into a power struggle and arrogance.

Just be… you in your small corner, and I in mine.