You Don’t Have to Be
This week’s Scripture is Matthew 5:13-16. This is a continuation of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Last week, we saw Jesus start with the Beatitudes. Now, He’s teaching us about salt and light.
We are to be salt and light in the world.
Were you scared of the dark when you were a kid?
We’re all familiar with being afraid of the dark. The dark can be a scary thing. We can’t see what monsters are out there hiding in the dark. Even the small glow of a night light is enough to keep them at bay.
Even as adults there are monsters out there. They may be different than when we were kids…but they’re out there.
Light makes things better.
Light helps in a lot of ways. It reveals things that we couldn’t see otherwise. It provides safety by helping us see where we’re going and what we’re doing. Light brightens the world around us and helps improve our and other’s moods. Light gives off warmth.
In verse 14, Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. Light does no good when it’s hidden. We are to let our light shine.
Light is spoken of throughout the Bible. It is where everything began. In the beginning, “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:1-4)
Salt makes things better.
Salt is a mineral made up mostly of sodium chloride. It has a lot of uses, such as making food taste better and preserving it so that it can be kept longer. Salt can also be used to relieve bug bites, disinfect, and relieve sore throats. Not to mention it makes things safer by helping to remove ice from roads and sidewalks.
By being salt in the world, we can help things be better. We can relieve other’s struggles and make things safer.
Isaiah saw what the world could be like if everyone was salt and light. In Isaiah 2: 1-5, he tells us to “walk in the light of the Lord.” Jesus is our night light.
Or think about Moses when he came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant in Exodus 34:29-35. His face was shining so bright that he put a veil over it. Moses was a night light for the people. He radiated God’s light.
We should be like Moses. We need to radiate God’s light. We should help others see better. We should be night lights.
We are called to be salt and light.