Matthew 5:13-16
Happy New Year to everyone. I hope that everyone has started 2013 on a positive note. I was going to stay up to welcome in the year, but I feel asleep watching television. When I woke up, it was two in the morning.
This week, I received a great blessing. I was in need of some money to pay for a few bills. I'd been in prayer about this matter, and I received what I needed in the mail. I am grateful for the Lord's provision.
In last week's message, we finished the beatitudes section of the Sermon on the Mount by looking at the matter of persecution for Christ's sake. We saw that those who live Godly in Christ Jesus can expect to face persecution and tribulation. The more a believer in Jesus tries to live for the Lord and spread the gospel, the greater will be the forces that come against him to hinder his living for the Lord and leading others to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, we continue with our study of Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount by examining the role of Jesus' followers in this world. Jesus tells His followers what their duty and mission is in society.
Jesus says in Matthew 5:13, "You are the salt of the earth." In Matthew 5:14 Jesus says, "You are the light of the world."
Believers in Jesus have the role of being salt and light in the world. What does this mean?
Salt acts as a preserving agent. In Jesus' time, there was no refrigeration. The way that the people preserved meat was to salt it. I saw how this was done the other day on a cooking program. The host demonstrated how fish was preserved through salting and how the salted fish was to be prepared.
Those who are followers of Christ have the mission of being a force for preserving that which is good and right in society. We are to stand for the truth in such a way that we help to stem the tide of society's descent into the darkness.
How are we to go about being the salt of the earth? For one thing, I believe that Christians need to stand up for what is moral and good. We should stand up for the values outlined in the Word of God.
One way that Christians can do this is by modeling family values in our own families. We can also speak up when others in our circle of influence are promoting values contrary to Biblical standards. We can be a voice for the way of the Lord.
We must also be advocates for what is right. As Christians we should also speak out against injustice against the poor, the weak and the oppressed. We should stand for a consistent pro-life ethic. Christians should be at the forefront of confronting violence in society by promoting the way of peace and reconciliation. Those who follow the way of the Lord should be at the forefront of the efforts to promote environmental awareness and the proper treatment of animals.
On a national level, those of us who live in democratic societies can work for legislation that supports the way of Christ, and we can vote for those who will uphold the values that we as Christians hold dear.
If we fail to be a voice for the good we are failing in our duty. As Jesus said, "If the salt has lost its taste, what use is it."
As Christians we are not just called to be salt, we are called to be the light of the world. Whereas being salt is holding back the tide, being the light drives back the darkness by the light of the good news of Jesus.
In verse 16, Jesus tells us one way that we can be the light of the world. Jesus says, "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven."
We are the light when we do good works. There is so much that needs to be done in this hurting world. There are hungry people to feed and people who need a variety of other physical needs met. Many people need someone to visit them and give them a word of encouragement.
As believers, we should be about doing as much good as possible and trying to make this world a little better than the way we found it.
We don't all have to do the same things. Some people are good at helping children, while others get on better with the elderly. Others are more comfortable helping God's creatures.
Whatever the Lord has gifted and enabled you to do, do it for the glory of God. In this way, people will see Jesus in us and give glory to the Lord.
Being the light of the world means more than this. Being the light means speaking the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are trapped in the darkness of sin.
All believers have been given the Great Commission by the Lord to preach the gospel to every nation. We are called to share the transforming power of Jesus.
This is the only way that the world will ever be truly changed. Only a relationship with Jesus can bring a person from the darkness to the light.
All of us need to find a way to share the gospel with others. Some are very comfortable sharing their faith verbally with friends and even strangers. Others are more effective spreading the message of the Lord through writing or other creative arts. Whatever way we do it, let us shine the light of the love of Jesus into a world of darkness.
If you are reading this and you've never accepted Jesus into your life, you can do it today. Repent of your sins and believe that Jesus died and rose again. Accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord of your life. May God bless you. Amen.
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