Be the Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." (Matthew 5:13 ESV)

Salt is used for seasoning and for preserving food. And to season is to flavor, and flavor is the distinctive taste of a food or drink; an indication of the essential character of something. And food is often a symbol spiritually of the word of God, of the truth of the gospel, and of Jesus Christ himself. 

So we who are following Jesus Christ with our lives are to be an indication to the people of the earth of the essential character of Jesus Christ and of his gospel message. And salt is for preserving this food, so we are to maintain, uphold, continue in, protect, safeguard, and defend the essential character of Jesus Christ and of the truth of the gospel by what we say and by how we live our lives.

However, if we lose our taste, i.e. if we no longer show forth the essential character of Jesus Christ and of the truth of the gospel of our salvation, because we have fallen back into sin, and/or via going back to living like the world and getting caught up in worldly passions, and/or by accepting a diluted gospel message, and being convinced we do not have to repent of our sins and walk in obedience to the Lord and show forth his character in our lives, then we serve no good purpose for the Lord and for his gospel.

“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 a stand, and it gives light to all 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 who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)

Light is Jesus Christ. It is the gospel truth, and it is righteousness, holiness, and godliness. So, in essence, we are to be Jesus Christ to the people of this world, i.e. we are to be like him in character, and we are to be doing and speaking the kinds of things he did and spoke to the people. And we are to proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness (sin) into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9), which is righteousness, Jesus Christ, the gospel, and obedience to God. And in this way we are the light of the world.

So, we are not to hide that light and to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ and of Christ as our Lord and Savior. But we are to shine forth the message of the gospel and the character of Jesus Christ by how we live our lives. For, Jesus said that we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which he prepared in advance that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:11-14). But these are the works of God, not our only fleshly works, but the ones he prepared for us to walk in.

Thus, if we are living for the Lord, and if our lives are a reflection of the truth of the gospel and of the character of Jesus Christ, then we are those who are doing the good works he prepared for us to walk in them, and we are living holy and godly lives in obedience to our Lord. We are no longer living in sin, making sin our practice, but righteousness and obedience to our Lord are what we practice. We are not perfect people, but we are being made perfect by the grace of God as we yield our lives to his control.

Be The Salt and Light

Video Talk

May 3, 2023

https://youtu.be/xPg0EeNKGuE

Caution: This link may contain ads

For Our Nation  

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

Trust Him with your life today.

Make Him your Lord and your Savior.

Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.

He will forgive you of your sin;

Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.

On our knees to God we’re praying,

Seeking God to give us answers

That are only found in Him.

God is sovereign over all things.

Nothing from His mind escaping.

He has all things under His command,

And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing

In our Lord, and interceding

For our nation and its people

To obey their God today.

He is our hope for our future.

For our wounds He offers suture.

He is all we need for this life.

Trust Him with your life today.

http://youtu.be/_XQkomPFz4Y

Caution: This link may contain ads