Introduction 103

‘You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…  He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross’ Phil.2:5 & 8

Third Thing: Just break the ice. There is a major hindrance to breaking the ice with people. The major hindrance that I have realized with myself also in breaking the ice, is ego and pride. Jesus was the first person to walk across the cosmos, come on earth, and break the ice. ‘You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross’ Phil.2:5-8. For Jesus to break the ice, for Jesus to reach you and I, to connect us to God, Jesus needed to humble Himself. For you to reach that person that God is putting in your heart, you need to humble yourself. Some of us are just too proud. You cannot break the ice being proud. Many times some of us just speak ‘Christianese’, as they have termed it, to people. Some of us just speak at people. I have realized that one of the major setbacks I have when I am trying to reach people for God is when they discover I am a Pastor. As soon as they know, they put up walls between themselves and me. That is why I deliberately try not to look like a Pastor. I was having a conversation with a young lady, a good conversation that could lead to God. Then someone passed by, saw me, and said ‘Hello Pastor’. I greeted the person but when I came back to my conversation, she had changed. The lady that was open became religious, trying to impress me with her religion. I am not sure that’s what God wants. By the time salt enters into the soup, it mixes with the soup. You don’t see the salt but you see the effect of the salt. ‘”You are the salt of the earth. But what good is the salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless’ Matt.5:13. Get out of your comfort zone, go out into the world and be the salt. Flavor the earth – bear fruit!

Thought: You may use just a pinch of salt but its impact is undeniable.

Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, please teach me and help me function actively as salt in my community, in Jesus Name.