Tuesday, February 18, 2025
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are 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. Matthew 5:13-16
This past Sunday Pastor Jim spoke on our Sixth Core Value - Community Engagement. We value that our first mission field is at home; in our families, our communities, our schools, the marketplace, and all our areas of influence. (Jer. 29:7; Jn. 13:34-35; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 17:22-34)
As disciples of Jesus we are called to the salt of the earth and the light of the world. What did Jesus mean when he said this and how can we be salt and light in our own realms of influence - our homes, schools, workplaces, and community?
Salt & Light
Salt changes things. Salt adds lots of flavor to our food. Salt also heals wounds, cleanses bacteria, preserves, and can even get rid of stains. In Jesus’ time, salt was used to preserve food because they didn’t have refrigeration. Salt was rubbed into meat and fish to keep it from spoiling before it could be eaten. Christians can be salt to the world by influencing the world for good, the way salt enhances the flavor of food. Jesus wants us to be salt to preserve the world or stop it from going bad as much as we can. We can be a positive influence, ministers of Christ to a broken and sick world by enhancing and communicating God’s goodness.
Salt can lose its saltiness. We can lose our influence on others by wrong actions or not loving others as Jesus did. Our actions will tell others who we are. When we do not act like followers of Jesus, people will not trust what we say. We can also lose our saltiness by not engaging in the community. We can sometimes withdraw from a culture that seems so opposite of how we live our lives but truthfully that is not what Jesus meant for us to do.
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 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. Just as light penetrates darkness, we are to penetrate the darkness of this world and lead them to hope.
This broken world needs hope. As Christians, being salt and light will happen naturally out of a life transformed by Him and walking with Him. Be salt and light at home. Go and be salt and light to the world – in your school, workplace, and community. Influence by illuminating and preserving. 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.
How are you being salt and light in that areas of influence that God has place you? How are you purposefully allowing your good works to be a beacon through your home, workplace, school, and community so that those that see them will glorify God?
