Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The amazing thing about salt and light is it’s not so much what they do but instead it’s what they are. Salt the flavor, the preservative, doesn’t go out and seek bland food to revive. It is always there and ready to be used, changing the flavor of whatever it comes into contact. In a similar fashion, light, the illuminator, the revealer, doesn’t run around looking for dark places to light up either; it just shines wherever it is and helps all who are in close proximity to see and understand what is around them. Salt and light make a difference in the world merely by being what they were created to be.
It’s funny isn’t it? Being salt and light in the complex world we live in today doesn’t require us to quit a job or move to a different place. No, being salt and light simply requires us to be a witness for God where we are right now. Jesus calls us just to be ourselves and to show the world who God created us to be. When we are salt to the world, we display to other people the joy, love, and excitement that comes from knowing God and we show ourselves to be the necessary ingredient to prevent spoilage in the world around us. When we are light, we bring hope, clarity, and vision to a world that often seems dark and scary, helping others to see and understand what truly is going on.
This week, I challenge you to live your life for Christ and be not afraid to stand up for what matters, to stand up for what is right. Be salt and light and be the example you were created to be to individuals you meet on your journey and to the community in which you grow. Be a positive presence in the lives of all of those around you.
Be salt and light! In so doing, you will be like Jesus and offer the world a better way!
Truth Conquers All 