RESIDUE – Is Jesus seen in your life? – Keep focused!

THE RESIDUE –

August 8, 2025

From the heart of Pastor Calvin Cook

My thoughts are swirling in several ways this morning – the most pressing being the words of Jesus from Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world…..let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

I pause in this place morning, as I consider the words that I shared this week in preaching. It seems that we know what we should do but hesitate from doing what we need to do. I am speaking of being “all for Jesus”.  While we sit in a comfortable place, whether that be church in a worship service, our prayer room, a quiet place with scripture or on a walk with no distractions, we are in a good place. But when we leave that centering spot and step back into life, which occurs the moment we step out of that centering place. We quickly return to the human conditioning in our lives and lose the focus that the Holy Spirit spoke into our very being.

This is certainly realized in our inner thoughts and who we are and how outside of that connection of being the light of the world and shining light for others to see. Jesus also speaks to this – in Matthew 12:33-35 Jesus teaches:

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” (ESV)

Here we probably are saying WOW! It takes a couple of reads of this scripture to get the gist of it. But, asking first is what I am saying, doing, or being align with the teachings of Jesus? This is stuff that the normal person in the world and sometimes even within the church wants to hear.  I don’t think we set out to be bad or cause harm but this re-enforces the words of “Keeping focused on Jesus” in our heart, mind, and soul. Because very quickly what we have become use to – our way of thinking or standard for living takes over very quickly. So, we could have sat in the greatest of church services, quiet spaces, or sanctuary alone with Jesus, but when we leave that space – the old takes over.

And this causes harm! Especially when the one who just laid out in their preaching what they just heard the Spirit speak to them for the transformation of life hears the bad fruit being spewed out by those who just heard, like it should be the standard of living. Things like your way is the only way, sharing the negativity that is ruling one’s life, beating down another especially the vulnerable, not encouraging the one who is trying to find their place in faith with many struggles.

In all of this it might be necessary to consider – are you receiving the light of Christ and then shining that light for others to see. This many times is overshadowed by what truly is reigning and ruling your heart – whether quietly and privately or boisterously and in public. What would you rather be known for? More importantly what would you want Jesus to know you for?

In returning to yesterday’s sermon the reflection from Colossians 3:17 and 3 John 1:7 was intended to remind us that every word, every deed, and every sacrifice is to be done in the name of Jesus and for the sake of His name. This means surrendering every area of life—our work, relationships, finances, and worship—not for our reputation or comfort, but so that Christ alone is glorified. It means allowing Jesus to overpower these areas of our life that are or have taken over so that we are producing good fruit all in and for the name of Jesus –

Prayer – May the Holy Spirit guide and receive these words as an offering, for His glory and transformation in all of our souls – In Jesus mighty name – Amen