Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Salt. Light. These are what we are. You and I are to be salt to the world, light in the darkened places, and those dark places are pretty much everywhere. I have always wondered about the first part of this passage…how does salt lose its saltiness? But maybe that is the point Jesus is making here: salt doesn’t lose its saltiness. However, if it did, what good would it be? Salt should be used to enhance the flavor of your meal. If salt wasn’t salty, you wouldn’t use it. Why sprinkle it on your fries if it won’t do what salt does? Similarly, don’t go around being “salty” without sprinkling some “flavor” on those around you. Bring joy. Show a fullness of life that is caused by your relationship with Jesus. Think also of the everyday usage of salt. It’s in all of our restaurants and we have it in our homes and stores. Salt was valuable for daily use in Jesus’ time as well, something highly valued and precious. Your faith is beneficial for daily use, for yourself and also to be shared; take your delight in Christ and sprinkle it on others all the time. We should be putting the presence of God within us to good work. Share Christ, change lives. What is the point of being “salt” if you don’t live out who you are?
Light is always the easier analogy of the two. We understand the difference between light and dark. How wonderful it is to find a flashlight or candle when the power goes out! It changes things; hope is restored; peace is found. But you wouldn’t turn on a light and promptly cover it with a blanket, or a bucket. What is the point in that? No, you turn on the light to see and place it somewhere so that it can best do its work. Similarly, you and I are called to shine, bring hope, peace, and truth to the dark places. And we do all of this so that God may be glorified. That people would be drawn to Him.
Choose your steps carefully…be one who adds flavor to those around them because of the life of Christ within you…be one who helps others find their way in the darkness because of the light of Christ within you. Sounds very challenging, but mostly this about making conscious choices in how we choose to live. You can do it because the Holy Spirit is there helping you. Give glory to God in all you do.
God, give us the strength to live as Your people. May we be a blessing to others and may You always get the credit. Amen.
See you at church,
Pastor Michelle
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