“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
Matthew 5:13-16
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Two things: salt and light. Salt is used for flavour, in some cases as a preservative and in other cases as a medicinal agent. There are many more ways to use salt. Jesus focuses here on flavour. Salt has flavour in itself. If I am salt then I should be a flavour dispenser. There are dire consequences to loosing our flavour. Looks like if the “flavour” is out “favour” is out.
Light is to brighten so the effects of darkness are mitigated. We need divine help not to loose our flavour and the wisdom of God to know how to bring flavour into our immediate surroundings. As for being light Jesus says our “good works” is a “shining light.” So while words are important it should be backed up by good works.
These scriptures addresses my personal walk with God first, before being able to influence another person, then the world. On vs 13, “What good is salt IF it loses its flavour?” stands out to me. I am the salt but God is the Enhancer through His Word. Gods Word should first preserve me, flavour me, be my essential nutrient, add texture to my life and decisions and enhance my life overall. Then I can repeat it and much more. Wow and Amen! That’s the purpose of Salt.
” you are the salt of the earth” that caught my attention even though I’ve read these passages many times.. when I think of where salt is found I just think of the ocean, lots of water!! Therefore we have learned that the word of God is living water, so if we don’t go to the word, (bible) we wont have the water which gives the flavour (the salt) in us to become desirable by others on what we have… which is Jesus!!!
In nursing we have been taught with edema/swealing of the legs is brought by too much intake of salt which is said …water follows salt…can you see it spiritually speaking …the more intake of the word the more salt/flavour we will be to the world or here in Winnipeg with our families , friends, co workers, neighbors etc!!
Wow, I really enjoyed reading your post Monica especially how you drew the analogy of the sea being salty and the water being the word. When we study the word we are salted (flavoured). May we live a flavoured life.
Light expresses God’s great love for us. His light points us to Jesus, “the light of the world” (John 8:12), who guides us from the gloom of sin. Walking in His light, we find the bright path to our lives.. The amazing experience I have about that Spiritual Brightness is when we meet people unbelievers for the first time and they say words like “ you have something so different that make you so bright”. This is the real view about the Holy Spirit is with us (Jesus) make us shining everywhere we go.. Jesus is the world’s brightest gift. As He shines, may we walk His way. Let the light shine bright everywhere we go..
I like what Folusho wrote. We need to be careful we don’t loose our flavor or our relevance in society. We can sometimes become complacent or comfortable in our “church” culture and forget about the lost.
I also like the part about we are lights in the darkness. Lights purpose is to expose the darkness and bring light where there isn’t any. Sometimes we avoid the darkness and stay comfortable in the light. I’m encouraged by this verse to stay flavorful and actively enter the darkness bringing light to it.
Yes “stay flavourful….” Amen and amen to that. I don’t want to be sour or bitter.