[Day 12]

RADIANT | Day 12…

Believers Are Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? . . . You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.”

~ Matthew 5:13-14

When I first heard this I wasn’t quite sure what it meant… I knew it was a characteristic of a true believer of Christ and it sounded important, but I was a little uncertain of its meaning.

I love the verses in Matthew declaring that we are THE salt and light, especially the part about the light and being a city on a hill… glowing in the night. Doesn’t it sound so Radiant!

I thought I would share a little more about these verses declaring us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world in case there are any others out there that are a little unclear and want to dig a little deeper…

SO… PART 1: SALT

We find this verse in the Sermon on the Mount following Jesus teachings on The Beatitudes. The Sermon on the Mount is the longest teaching from Jesus in the New Testament. It emphasizes Jesus moral teaching in the book of Matthew. I believe that the verses preceding Matthew 5:13 & 14 are a declarative summary of the Beatitudes. Being the salt and light are characteristics of what we ARE to be, not something we will do…

I am a salt fein… I’ve been known to add a little food to my salt. {I know… terrible} Just this past week, I was scolded at the dinner table… My cousin quickly told me we didn’t need salt as I was desperately searching for it across the table. And then Emily repeated what we had previously discussed while preparing a fabulous meal.. You should salt your food as you are cooking to bring out the flavors, enhancing the food. A dash of salt on anything and you are aware of its presence.

Salt is unique in its qualities; enhancing the flavors of food and even preserving food from decay and corruption. So, this makes perfect sense for Christ to use as a symbol of who we are to be as Christ-followers. Through the Holy Spirit, we are to enhance this world with Jesus. We are to do what we were intended to do… If we lack value to the kingdom what is our purpose… {is that too harsh?!} If the salt did not work, did not have these properties of enhancing and preserving, there would be no need for the substance. Of course, salt is gonna be salt… But, if it did not do what it was intended to do, it would be useless. If we who claim to be Christ-followers lack genuine commitment to the cause for Christ, we are like the salt that has lost its value. He is calling us to be the salt of the earth and WARNING us that if salt looses its saltiness it is no longer good for anything.

I think here is another example where we have messed up… There are those who profess to be Christ-followers yet LACK the salt, it is evident to those who do not believe and question God. Causing great confusion and distrust. When we claim to be Christ-followers we must seek Him with our whole heart, surrendering all so that we do not lose our value as Christians, we do not lose our saltiness. And this will be evident by how we are enhancing our surroundings.

Please KNOW, what Christ has called us to be, He has already equipped us for by the power of His Holy Spirit. We are called to be the salt because He has given us the power and authority TO BE THE SALT to the world. We have got to stand on His Word and know it is true and believe it for ALL that it is.

When Christ made this statement to His disciples the meaning was very clear. They understood the value of salt in their day. It held significant value and today symbolizes the importance of each of His disciples, US! We are of extreme importance, like salt, we are VERY VALUABLE TO THE KINGDOM… enhancing, preserving… protecting from corruption.

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

be the salt,

our verses… hide them in your heart!

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalms 34:5

catch up here…