Salt & Light
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· 7 viewsJesus calls his disciples to be salt and light to the world, knowing full-well that only God is all good and pure love, so that they might reflect him to the world.
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Jesus had moved to Capernaum after John the Baptist was killed.
Jesus laid out his interpretation of the Hebrew scriptures in his Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus laid out his interpretation of the Hebrew scriptures in his Sermon on the Mount.
He spoke about expected attitudes and behaviors of his followers.
He also pointed the ways God would empower his people to fulfill those expectations.
Jesus gave his interpretation of scripture so that his teaching would not be confused as rejection of the Mosaic Law.
Jesus gave his interpretation of scripture so that his teaching would not be confused as rejection of the Mosaic Law.
Jesus’ disciples were to be salt and light.
Jesus’ disciples were to be salt and light.
Salt preserves and seasons food.
Salt preserves and seasons food.
Salt is not the food itself, just enhances the flavors.
And, if the salt becomes full of impurities, it becomes tasteless, useless.
Light is vital to growing and sustaining life
Light is vital to growing and sustaining life
Light provides the opportunity for colors to show, and light is emitted from a power source.
But, if you shine light on a dirty or marred surface, you will see the imperfections.
But, if you shine light on a dirty or marred surface, you will see the imperfections.
What food cannot be enhances with seasoning?
And creation is with imperfections?
Making or maintaining perfection simply isn’t the point, besides it not even being possible without God.
Sometimes, people don’t like the flavor we bring.
Sometimes, people don’t like the flavor we bring.
Or, shining light on imperfections.
Or, shining light on imperfections.
Jesus said his disciples are to add flavor to the world, to enhance what is good.
Jesus said his disciples are to add flavor to the world, to enhance what is good.
The people of God are light, but only in relation to Christ.
Jesus claims to be the source of light, “the light of the world”
Light merely is, and cannot be hidden in darkness, in fact, light shines even brighter in darkness.
Everything that is not a source of light merely reflects light or let the light pass through it.
If the church is to be salt and light it must look and act different in the world.
If the church is to be salt and light it must look and act different in the world.
If the church looks too much like the world, the church will lose its purpose, its calling.
It becomes tasteless, dull, boring, uninteresting, and even to some, simply revolting.
To season the world, the church must bring purpose, meaning to life, “flavor” to life.
To season the world, the church must bring purpose, meaning to life, “flavor” to life.
Jesus says, the light of God must be shared, so that others will see it and recognize God through them.
Jesus says, the light of God must be shared, so that others will see it and recognize God through them.
Even in times of persecution, of darkness, they must let God shine brighter.
Jesus interpreted the most important aspects of scripture as loving God with humility, while living out that faith in mercy, justice, and peace with others, namely, to love others.
16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Since all scripture has love of God and others as their aim, then all God’s commands are to be taught and respected by the people of God.
His people are
His people are
Fresh Salt
Reflecting Light
Living Letters
Not contaminated salt but fresh salt, giving flavor and preserving what is good.
Not living in darkness but reflecting/radiating light that reveals the truth and points the way.
Not like long ‘dead letters’ but ‘living letters’; God’s word alive in the world.
God is making his people new, and one day, Jesus will return, and all creation will pass away and be made new. (2 Cor. 5:17 & Rev. 12)
God is making his people new, and one day, Jesus will return, and all creation will pass away and be made new. (2 Cor. 5:17 & Rev. 12)
We honor scripture as it reveals God to the world, and we worship Jesus Christ as God come to the world to save us.
Later, Jesus promised to send a comforter, his Spirit to empower his people.
At Pentecost, Jesus sent his Spirit to his people to fulfill God’s commands.
You were made like the salt of God, bringing the flavor of goodness, and preserving what is good.
You were made like the salt of God, bringing the flavor of goodness, and preserving what is good.
That they might as Psalm 34 says “taste and see that the Lord is good.”
You were given the light of God, that it might be seen.
You were given the light of God, that it might be seen.
That others might come to love and serve loving God also.
That they might ask after God, and God would hear them and answer, “Here I am.”
That they might ask after God, and God would hear them and answer, “Here I am.”