Read Matthew 5:13-16
BEING THE SALT OF THE EARTH:
In vs 13, our saviour Jesus talked about us a Christians and followers of Jesus being the salt of the earth!!
In order to understand what Jesus may have meant by this statement, let us look at what salt was used for back in ancient times!!
1.SALT AS A PRESERVATIVE: Back in those days, they didn’t have fridges to be able to freeze food like we have today, so salt was used as a preservative to PREVENT FOOD FROM DECAYING!! Likewise, we as Christians are called to protect the world from SPIRITUAL DECAY and CORRUPTION, just as salt protects food from decay!! We are called to preserve God’s standards in this world and prevent it from decay and corruption.
2.SALT AS AN ANTISEPTIC: Salt water (saline solution) was also used to CLEANSE AND HELP HEAL WOUNDS. But it would often sting in order to do so!! Likewise we are called to cleanse this world when it does fall into corruption and help bring healing to those who are wounded spiritually by sharing the gospel and the truth of God’s word, and introducing this world to the love of Jesus, the one who can cleanse and heal them by His word!! (Eg. In John 15:3, Jesus said to the disciples that they were already CLEAN because of the WORD He had spoken to them!) But sharing Jesus’ gospel and truth may leave a “stinging effect” on some as it brings CONVICTION and CORRECTION! Are we willing to speak the truth of God’s word over people that even though might initially “sting”, ultimately brings healing in Jesus to that person?
3.SALT AS A FLAVOURING AGENT- adds flavour, makes the world a better, tastier place without calling attention to itself!! Likewise we are called to show the world that true satisfaction, joy and contentment can only be found in Jesus!! And just as salt doesn’t bring attention to itself, so too all the glory must go to Jesus and not to us!!
Matthew 5:16b “...that they may see your good deeds and PRAISE YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.”
4.SALT STIMULATES THIRST! What happens when you eat food that is too salty? You start feeling THIRSTY and need to drink water!!
Jesus said in John 7:37 “If anyone is THIRSTY, let him come to me to drink.”
Jesus also told the Samaritan woman in John 4:14 “..Whoever drinks the water I give him will never THIRST. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
We too are called to stimulate others into thirsting after Jesus and His righteousness!! (Matthew 5:6, Psalm 42:1-2) IS THE WAY I LIVE MY LIFE FOR JESUS ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO THIRST AFTER JESUS?
NOW, In vs 14, Jesus calls His followers to be the LIGHT OF THE WORLD! Let’s take a look at what this involves!
BEING THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD:
FIRSTLY we see in vs 14-15 that a city on a hill and lamp were not meant to be hidden! This therefore reveals to us that there is no such thing as a SECRET CHRISTIAN!! We can't claim to be Christians and yet HIDE THE LIGHT OF JESUS that is within us! (Mark 8:38)
SECONDLY, the reason we can be the light of the world, is because JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (John 8:12, John 9:5) and He is within us (Galatians 2:20)!! We are simply shining Jesus' light out to this world!!
THIRDLY, in vs 15 we see that shining our light is compared to a lamp giving light to EVERYONE in the house!! So often we are happy to shine the light with our friends, but not with our family or with strangers (or vice-versa)! The light of Jesus should be shone in ALL aspects of our life and is for everyone!! DON’T SHOW FAVOURITISM TO WHOM WE SHINE THE LIGHT OF JESUS TO!
FOURTHLY, in vs 16, shining our light is compared to a Christian’s GOOD DEEDS (1 Peter 2:12)!! Living that life pleasing to Jesus and turning from the fruitless deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:8-14)!! In the context of this passage in Matthew 5, it could also be referring to living out the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10)!
FIFTHLY, in vs 16- the purpose of shining the light is not to call attention to ourselves, it's not to give ourselves the glory but so that God gets all the glory (1 Peter 2:12)!! DOES JESUS GET THE GLORY FROM HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE OR DO YOU GET THE GLORY?
FINALLY, light allows people who are in darkness to see!! Likewise we are called to shine the light so that the world who is in darkness can see Jesus the true light and come to Him!!
Light also exposes what is done in the darkness (John 3:19-20, Ephesians 5:11-13).
Does the way I live my life for Jesus cause people to consider their own dark actions and come to Jesus?
May these principles help us to BE THE SALT AND LIGHT OF JESUS TO THIS WORLD!
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