Thursday, May 21, 2020
Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10
Salt and Light – Again -
Because Right Now the World is Desperate for Salt and Light
Today we are talking about salt and light again, because
right now the world needs us to be salt and light more than ever. Some days it does seem that the lines of
division between “us” and the world get wider and wider. We are in the world but not of the world and
as humans, it is natural for us to stick to those who are like us. But this is not what Jesus expects of us at
all.
Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be
salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your
saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and
will end up in the garbage. “Here’s
another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in
the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as
public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m
going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now
that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house;
be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to
open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16
MSG
These are Jesus’ words from The
Sermon on the Mount. I love this translation from The Message because it lays
it out for us very clearly; Our purpose
is to be salt and light to the world!
Let’s Talk About Salt -
Salt adds lots of flavor to our
food. I crave salty and crunchy foods much more than sweets. Not everyone feels
that way, but a bag of chips is great temptation to me. Salt also heals wounds,
cleanses bacteria, preserves, and can even get rid of stains. In Jesus’ time,
salt was used to preserve their food because they didn’t have refrigeration.
Salt was rubbed into meat and fish to keep it from spoiling before it could be
eaten. Jesus wants us to be salt to
preserve the world or stop it from going bad as much as we can. Christians will
be salt to the world by influencing the world for good, the way salt enhances
the flavor of food. We should be a positive influence, ministers of Christ to a
broken and sick world.
Let’s Talk About Light –
Light dispels the darkness, the
dark shadows, the pitch black of night.
Light illuminates, exposes, and shows the way. Light helps us find things. As Christians,
Jesus says we are the light and we are to shine His light to the rest of the
world, showing them the way to Him. We
are not to hide away from the world. We are not to hide our faith or neglect to
reflect Jesus when we are called to do so.
Light penetrates and we are to penetrate the darkness of this world and
lead them to hope.
It is true that we are just
passing through and we are not of this world, but we are on assignment. Jesus didn’t say go find salt and go find
light. He said we ARE the salt and
light. We are to be separate from the world, while we make an impact, and penetrate
the world, just as salt and light penetrate. If we blend too well with the
world, we lose our saltiness, our witness becomes tainted, and non-believers
will not listen to us if we live the same as they do.
Right now, the world needs
hope. They need a message and a promise
that their tomorrows are going to be ok. Although we cannot promise everything
will be ok for everyone, we can promise them someone who holds their tomorrows,
someone who loves them enough to die for them.
We can promise them that they can trust Him because He is completely trustworthy.
Go and be salt and light to the world.
Love people and care for them and in doing so God’s light will shine through
you, and they will know the flavor of God’s love that is better than anything
they have ever known.
Lara Cook
Lara Cook
