Salt & Light
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden..." - Matthew 5:14
When you think about some of your favorite, choice foods, one of the main considerations one would have is flavor. How does it taste, what components add to the savory undertones, was it something you had when you were young? Salt has some important roles, not only does it add some good flavor to food, it also is a preservative and can help food, especially meat, last longer.
Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, refers to His disciples as the salt and light of the world. Not only are followers of Christ to be a light in a dark world, putting on full display for the whole world, the Love and gospel of Christ, but, in the same way, are to season the earth. How worthless is salt if it loses it's saltiness? Jesus asks this question and it is an important reminder that we need to remain in Him to preserve our saltiness.
Jesus also calls us the Light of the World. This is an important distinction as followers of Christ. We live in a dark world and this has always been the case, though I believe the days we live in are especially dark. It is vitally important that as followers of Christ, namely Christians, we bear the name of Christ and ought to represent the love and life of Christ to those around us. Though we live in a dark world, we have also been, at the same time, born until a living hope. Jesus Christ is our hope of glory and we need to always remember that.
Something that we also see in this passage of scripture is who glory is directed to when our light shines. When people see our good works, they should give glory to our Father in heaven. Our motivation for doing good shouldn't be to promote our own agenda or name but to bring glory to our Father in heaven. In reference to belief in God, C.S. Lewis had this great quote: "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” Once we are born into the Living Hope, Jesus Christ, it should affect how we see everything around us and open the eyes of our heart.
Jesus came to fulfill the law and until heaven and earth pass away, the law will not be abolished, He goes as far as to say not even the smallest stroke or letter will be pass from the law. We need to live righteously and as disciple makers ourselves, be faithful as servants of Jesus. Paul, in his letter to Ephesus, reminds us that not all of us should desire to be teachers, because teachers will be held to a higher standard. Our lives need to reflect a change that confirms our relationship with Christ and also are marked with holiness. God even tells us to be Holy as He is Holy.
We need to be the Salt and Light of the world, the world should be more savory because of us and should be filled with the light of Christ. Darkness scatters and cannot exist where there is light, just light even a small candle in a dark space and you'll realize the power of light.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:14-20
When you think about some of your favorite, choice foods, one of the main considerations one would have is flavor. How does it taste, what components add to the savory undertones, was it something you had when you were young? Salt has some important roles, not only does it add some good flavor to food, it also is a preservative and can help food, especially meat, last longer.
Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, refers to His disciples as the salt and light of the world. Not only are followers of Christ to be a light in a dark world, putting on full display for the whole world, the Love and gospel of Christ, but, in the same way, are to season the earth. How worthless is salt if it loses it's saltiness? Jesus asks this question and it is an important reminder that we need to remain in Him to preserve our saltiness.
Jesus also calls us the Light of the World. This is an important distinction as followers of Christ. We live in a dark world and this has always been the case, though I believe the days we live in are especially dark. It is vitally important that as followers of Christ, namely Christians, we bear the name of Christ and ought to represent the love and life of Christ to those around us. Though we live in a dark world, we have also been, at the same time, born until a living hope. Jesus Christ is our hope of glory and we need to always remember that.
Something that we also see in this passage of scripture is who glory is directed to when our light shines. When people see our good works, they should give glory to our Father in heaven. Our motivation for doing good shouldn't be to promote our own agenda or name but to bring glory to our Father in heaven. In reference to belief in God, C.S. Lewis had this great quote: "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” Once we are born into the Living Hope, Jesus Christ, it should affect how we see everything around us and open the eyes of our heart.
Jesus came to fulfill the law and until heaven and earth pass away, the law will not be abolished, He goes as far as to say not even the smallest stroke or letter will be pass from the law. We need to live righteously and as disciple makers ourselves, be faithful as servants of Jesus. Paul, in his letter to Ephesus, reminds us that not all of us should desire to be teachers, because teachers will be held to a higher standard. Our lives need to reflect a change that confirms our relationship with Christ and also are marked with holiness. God even tells us to be Holy as He is Holy.
We need to be the Salt and Light of the world, the world should be more savory because of us and should be filled with the light of Christ. Darkness scatters and cannot exist where there is light, just light even a small candle in a dark space and you'll realize the power of light.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:14-20
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