Refining of Salt — 2: Mercy, Purity, Peace

7 Refining of Salt—2: Mercy, Purity, Peace

Charm of Salt —Divine Love Even though you may forget other you may remember this, 'Ye are the salt of the earth'. Keep on praying with faith everyday, 'Lord make me good salt. Wherever I stay and labour, please give me the taste of Thy love and grace that others may taste Thy love, grace and mercy through me. By my words and deeds may others be strengthened, blessed, comforted and cheered. Through me may even my enemies get joy and comfort; those who are in darkness come into the light; those who are fallen be lifted up; and those who are in sorrow have their tears wiped away". It is a great privilege to act as salt. By one act of kindness or by just a few words spoken in season, others will be comforted.

A story is told of the late king George V. When his mother died, his ministers came to condole with him. One by one they came to the king. They used many nice words. They said, 'Your Majesty, we are very sorry to hear the sad news'. They used many fine words and sentences in their condolences. Lastly the young minister Lloyd George came. When he went near, the king burst into tears. Afterwards the ministers said to Lloyd George, 'What did you say to the king? You said something to him that made him feel better. By your going to the king he was much comforted. We said many nice words but when you went, he was in tears holding your hand. He replied, 'I only looked into his face and held his hand, and he began to weep. He could feel from my hand, I was really sorry for him.' The others had said many nice words from their head but not from their heart. Sometimes you can be true salt even though you might not speak. By just one touch from you others can be comforted. Many aches and pains can be removed from a grieving heart by one loving touch. The whole world is full of broken hearts. If we could see into one another's hearts we would be surprised how many wounds we all carry. People may not discover it, because we look happy and smile, I believe that in every heart there is some painful wound which no ointment or doctor can take away. Only divine love and sympathy can do it. To fulfil this purpose we are being prepared by our living Saviour to become the salt of the earth, so that wherever we be, others may be benefited by our contact with them.

Divine Love makes us merciful and forgiving 1 have mentioned how in verses 3 to 10, the Lord reveals the ten processes of refining to make us the salt of the earth.

Now let us turn to verse7, 'Blessed are the merciful'. I believe that these words are primarily meant for believers, because only a true believer can show real mercy and kindness. They will be able to show mercy to anybody, anywhere and at any time. The most unlovely can be shown mercy, but it will be possible to us only if we have divine love. Without divine love even though we try we would not succeed. That is why it is necessary that the love of God be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. This love cannot be produced in us by any human activity or effort. It must be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. Then spontaneously we would feel like helping others, and receive much joy in doing so. Only by such divine love will it be easy for us to forgive others. As men, our hearts often become hard.

There are many hard-hearted Christians. Whatever love they do show is only in words and not from the heart.

Some years ago a man came to me and said, 'Will you kindly pray for my wife and daughter?' He narrated how while he was away on duty in the railway, his wife and daughter ran away from home. He pleaded with tears, 'Please brother, pray for me'. I prayed for him, and he went away. After a while I was convicted in my heart. I thought to myself, "That man came to me in great sorrow and tears, I cannot say truthfully that I prayed for him with a real burden. Supposing my own mother went away like that, how would I feel- I would feel like weeping'. I said, 'O God, forgive me. Give me a soft and tender heart. Give me a new burden for prayer'. I went on praying for more than two hours till I began to feel the same pain that he had. I prayed, 'Show Thy mercy to that man who is in need, and bring his wife and daughter back home'. Next morning I received a message that two women had come to see me. So I went to see them. They were the same man's wife and daughter. When they saw me they began to weep and say, 'Brother, pray for us, we were deceived by the devil and went away from home. We want to be forgiven.' They never knew that the man had also come to see me. How he was comforted when they returned! I also was happy. Only when we really feel for those who are in sorrow and affliction, can we show true mercy.

We get an opportunity to show mercy in Christ's name when others ask to forgive them (Matthew 18: 35). I have known in my experience that many people, when they were touched by God's Word, went and apologized to the persons concerned. But those persons would sometimes reply, 'Yes, I forgive you, but I won't talk to you. I will forgive you, but please don't come to my house any more'. That is not forgiveness. You must

. forgive them from the heart, even though they might have sinned against you many times, (cf. Matthew 18:21 and 22). Please show mercy, and do not be a hard-hearted Christian. Be merciful and kind and forgive others as our Lord also has forgiven you. See again Colossians 3:13, 14. If you want to be merciful, then please be willing to forgive those who ask for forgiveness, even though they may come to you seventy times seven. By nature we are hard-hearted, so we have to pray again and again, 'Oh Lord, keep our hearts tender, kind and merciful'.

My father had a very bitter enemy because of whom he had to fight a case in the court for more than seven years and undergo heavy loss. One day I saw that man going to the bazaar in my home town. I followed him and put my hand on his shoulder. He turned around to me and asked, 'Do you recognise me?' I said, "Yes, are you not Mr. So-and-So?" He looked very surprised and said, 'Nobody in your family ever looks at me. When they see me they curse me. But why are you talking to me?' I replied, "My people wrote to me and I know all about it. I know the great harm that you have done to my father and my family. If I had come here without Christ, I might have thrown sticks and stones at you. But now I love you. When I heard about you, I began praying for you. I was a great sinner, but the Lord forgave me; So even though I know that you are a bitter enemy to my family, because the Lord has forgiven me of my sin, I also forgiven you. The Lord wants me to pray for you'. Then like a child he burst into tears saying, 'I never knew that there is such a love in the world.' It is only the Lord Jesus Christ that can put such love into our hearts. Oh, praise God, the 'salt' is a blessing, not only to our friends and relations but also to our enemies (cf. Romans 12:20, 21). 'Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy'. Remember we shall receive much more love from God than we can ever give.

Effect of Salt—purity and vision of God 'Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God' (Matthew 5:8). People often make fun of us when we preach in the open air, and say to us 'We want to see God. Show us your God, then we will believe Him'. They do not understand that before they can see God they must have a pure heart. That is an essential qualification. Many years ago, before my conversion, I thought that God was very, very far away, and that no man could possibly come near Him. But the Bible says, 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God'. They shall see Him, not for one moment or one minute or one hour only, but for eternity. They will see Him in His full glory, and they shall be very near Him. According to God's Word we all have a wicked heart, a heart full of deceit and corruption. The Word of God says, 'The heart is desperately wicked, who can know it?' (Jeremiah 17:9). So how can we get a.pure heart?

How to get a pure heart Many people think that by self afflicted sufferings, by tears and by such other means, they can become pure. One man thought that if he could live alone and never look at any man or woman, eat only fruits and drink only water, then he would become pure. So he went into a dark mountain cave in Africa and lived there for seven years. When he came out, his friends asked him, 'How much purity have you received?' He replied, 'I have become more filthy than I ever was before'. His mind had become more corrupt and more defiled. Thus you see that you cannot become pure by human effort.

God's Word says in 1 John 1:7 that the blood of Jesus Christ goes on cleansing us continually. Let me explain this. The eye is so made that whenever any dust or foreign matter, however small, gets into it, the eye starts blinking and watering, until the dust is washed out. Thus the eye-ball is always kept clean. In the same way the blood goes on cleansing us. We always find some evil thought or other is trying to come into our hearts. They will not go away except by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we say by faith, 'Oh Lord, cleanse me', straightaway we are cleansed. The Lord will not say.'I have no time now. I will come and do it to-morrow.' On the oth I will answer'. How can we know that we are cleansed? Because then we will be able to see God. According to John 4: 24, 'God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth'. When we have been cleansed in our spirit we will know God, see Him and be with Him.

Every man is made of three parts: body, soul and spirit. Now what is the body? It is made up of muscles, bones and blood. What is the soul? It is constituted of instinct for thinking, emotion for loving, and will-power for making decisions. Then the spirit is that by which we are able to know God, worship Him and do His will. Now a sinner has a dead spirit, darkened soul, and a defiled body. Of these three, spirit, soul and body, God who is Spirit, cannot come into my body or mind (that is soul); He can only come into my spirit. When He comes in our dead spirit it will be quickened. But God is holy, and before He can come in, He has to make us holy. He does it by His blood. By His blood He cleanses my conscience and then comes into my spirit. That is called New Birth. Then He goes on cleansing me constantly. When we are born again, our spirit is quickened, and the soul and the body also are made pure. God lives in us in Spirit and then by our spirit we can know Him and feel Him. If we come to Him in prayer and tell Him, 'My Lord, I have come to see Thee, and to speak to Thee, and to spend some time with Thee,' He replies, 'Yes, my child, I am happy to see you. Tell me your burdens. What is your question? What is your difficulty? Tell me freely.' Then God says, 'My child, let me speak to you, and give you something, and show you something.' Thus we can see Him all the time in the spirit, provided we remain' pure and holy. To enjoy this privilege always, we must be cleansed constantly by faith through His precious blood. You can pray in this way, 'Lord Jesus, I am defiled by my angry words; I am defiled by my wicked thoughts. Will you wash my thoughts by Thy precious blood?' He then speaks to you, 'Yes my child. I, forgive you and wash you. Go and sin no more.' He gives you heavenly joy and you go on talking with Him continually. Then these words will be fulfilled. 'Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.' You will be able to enjoy unbroken fellowship with Him; and through your experience, many others will be inspired to come to God.

Work of Salt—Peace Making; Divine Sonship In Matthew 5:9 we read, 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God'. By nature all of us were God's enemies. When we were born again we became children of God. Now worldly people are God's enemies and also ours. They will hurt us, wound us and do us harm. By their words and thoughts, and deeds, they are constantly wounding God. That is why they are rightly called God's enemies. When you are born again you become a peacemaker. Then God's enemies will become God's friends through you, and this ministry is a privilege given to you as a child of God.

When God called me for His service, I began to offer one excuse after another. I told Him I could serve-Him with my money and with my job. I went on struggling in this way for two years. One Sunday morning, in the month of January 1932, God spoke to me very clearly through a man called Flynn. He held my hand in his that morning and said, 'Why don't you go to India and preach the Gospel?' I replied, 'Mr. Flynn, I am an engineer. I have spent five years studying engineering and I have spent much money undergoing training. How can an engineer be a preacher? Besides, I stammer and flutter so badly no words will come out of my mouth. How can a stammerer and a stutterer preach? As for music I cannot sing one note.' However, his words were ringing in my ears, 'Why don't you go to India and preach the Gospel?' Then 1 said to God, 'I promise Thee I will give Thee all my money. I don't want my money for my own use or comfort. You take all my money. But I beg Thee not to make me a preacher. I cannot be a preacher.' Still God said, 'I don't want your money; I want you.' But even then I argued with the Lord, 'I will earn money and employ many preachers, men who can sing, witness and preach; and they will do the job better than I. As an engineer I can earn money and give it for Thy service.' Yet God insisted, 'I don't want your money, I want you. Why don't you go to India and preach the Gospel?' I thank God, at last I yielded in April 1932. I said to Him, 'Today I yield my life to Thee. I give you everything and I make no reservation, You can send me anywhere, and keep me anywhere, for any length of time. Lord, I give myself to Thee.' The Lord replied, 'I accept you for my service on three conditions: first of all, withdraw all claims from your property and don't tell any human being by letter or hint or suggestion about your material needs; you must tell it to Me alone. Secondly, don't join any Society or Mission. Serve all equally. Thirdly, do not make your own plans; let me lead you day by day.' L replied, 'I agree.' It was settled on April 14, 1932, at half-past-two in the morning, in the city of Vancouver, Canada. The past thirty-two years have been to me years of great joy. In every part of India, Pakistan and Ceylon and other countries too, among rich and poor; high and low, I have seen God's enemies becoming His friends. It is the highest joy in the world to see others coming to the Lord's feet and finding heavenly joy through us. Thus we shall become peacemakers and we shall be called the children of God.

God's Calling—Yield to Him Is God speaking to you 'Follow Me, follow Me?' Do not resist Him. Do not waste your time arguing with. God saying, 'After some years I will surely do so. Only let me get my children married off, first of all.' How the devil tries to prevent us from obeying God! May God help you to obey Him even though He might send you to the uttermost parts of the world. You must be willing to undergo much discomfort in the preparation. Do not think much of human qualifications. God can use any one of us if we are willing to yield to Him. But He will not use force to compel you. Only when I said to God, 'I give Thee my life did He take me and use me. Then in His own way He gave me training. He took me through many painful trials, and I thank God for them all. Now I would plead with you, please obey Him now. Say to Him, Take my life and use me as Thou wilt.'

There was a beggar who earned his living by playing violin. He would get hardly two rupees a day. One day a man passing-by saw him playing. This man was a master violinist. He came 'near and said to the beggar, 'Please lend me your violin.' The beggar gave it to him and the man began to play. Very soon a big crowd gathered. What wonderful music it was! The great violinist said, 'If you feel like it, you may give this beggar over here whatever you like.' That day the beggar became a rich man. It was just the same violin which the beggar had always played, but then the music had not been beautiful. But now that it had come into the hands of the master musician, it was wonderful. In the same way when we give ourselves to Lord Jesus Christ, He can bring out through us wonderful, heavenly music. So yield to Him, respond to Him and say, 'My Lord I will follow Thee; take my life; make me Thy witness; use me for Thy glory. I am willing to spend and be spent for Thee.' While you are yet young give your life to Him. Do not wait until old age. 'Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.' They shall give God full pleasure.