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SALT
There is a term in our culture that is used to describe someone who is sassy, bitter, and even irritated. Can you guess it? Hint: It’s in the title of this blog and also the title of this section! If you couldn't figure it out, the word is salty. Did you know that we are called to be salty? Yeah, the bible literally tells us that we are the salt of the earth. Matthew 5 verse 13 says, ““You are the salt of the earth.”
Now, this is not talking about the same meaning of salty as other people think of (although I do believe Jesus could be a little salty sometimes toward the disciples haha). But it is talking about being the literal salt of the earth. “How do we do that? We’re human, not chemicals.” I’m so glad you asked!
You see, salt has many different purposes. And so do we!
Salt is a preservation; which means that it maintains something to its original state. We as christians should be preserving the world. There is so much filth surrounding us every day. We have all of these shows, apps, diseases, etc that can easily overtake the earth and we see that happening. But as christians, we bring goodness into the world through Jesus. We are to preserve the world how God created it. We should not be adding to the filth, but cleaning it up and preserving the world. We are to be salt, preserving what the Lord has given us.
Salt is also a seasoning. I know I don’t have to tell y'all that because you probably use it every day. But imagine what food would be like without salt. It would be tasteless and gross. Just like salt seasons our food, we are to season the earth. We’re supposed to add to it. Spread the joy and kindness around. Love others the way Jesus loved. We should be adding flavor in everything we do. Keeping a positive attitude when everything is going wrong. Don’t add a bad flavor, but a good one.
Salt is also precious and valued. In the Biblical days, salt could be given as part of a covenant or offering. It was precious to all people. It was precious to the Lord. We, us, being the salt of the earth are so incredibly precious to the Lord. He values us and gives us worth. He has given us a reason to live. He has blessed us and encouraged us more than we can imagine. He gives us life. And he does not want us to waste it.
Verse 13 continues on to say this, “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.” Salt is so useful and important. Us being salty can add so much to life and to other lives around us. But if we lose our salt, we are no longer useful. Imagine if salt stopped being salt. It wouldn’t add flavor. It wouldn’t preserve anything. And then it wouldn’t be valued anymore. We cannot let our lives get to a point where we are no longer salty for the Lord. We must continue to be salt for our God.
Light
Has anybody ever told you that you are light? Have they told you that you light up a room when you walk in? I think that that is one of my favorite compliments that anyone has ever given me. Not because I want to be noticed, but because I believe that that is the Lord working through me.
If we continue reading the next few verses in Matthew 5, it says this, “You are the light of the world.” Light, like salt, has many purposes as well. But for right now I want to focus on the big overall picture of light. Light makes things visible. When you’re in a dark room and you turn on the light, you’re able to see everything. Think about the world right now. Is there darkness? It’s literally everywhere right? You turn the news on and it’s nothing but negative things, terrible things. You turn on a show and it’s full of filth. You go into a store and they are selling things and supporting things that are against scripture. The world is so dark, yet there is also light. I’m not talking about the sunlight, but I’m talking about those who follow the Lord. You see people praying for others. People sharing the truth in love. Stores taking a stand for their beliefs. People choosing to live in the light.
How do we live in the light? How do we be the light? We spend time in the presence of the true light, Jesus. We build our relationship with Him and learn who He is so that we can become like Him. We imitate how He lived His life on earth because everywhere He went, there was light in darkness. Blind men saw. People were fed. People were set free. People were healed. In the middle of their darkness, Jesus came and gave them light. So to be the light, we have to know the light.
Matthew 5:14-16 says this, 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.”
We’ve already stated that the world is full of darkness. And that in the darkness of this world, we are to be light and share the light (Jesus). This could get you canceled. It could cause you to receive judgment from others. People will tell you to stop sharing the word. They may even tell you that you are “too bright.” But here’s the thing, we should never dull our light because of the people we are around. If you are in a bar, be the light. If you are surrounded by unbelievers, BE THE LIGHT. If you are around your family, be the light. No matter what anyone says or does, we should never be ashamed of being a light in the midst of the darkness.
We can’t hide who we are. We can’t hide who the Lord has called us to be. Jesus is literally saying to us in those scriptures that we ARE salt and light. He didn’t say BE, but ARE. So that means that we have to act like it. Start being who He has called you to be. Don’t make excuses. Start being the salt and light of the earth.
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