What We Love We Share

Matthew 5:13–16 CSB

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Open

Have you ever really loved something?

When I was a kid this for me was Deion Sanders. He played two sports, was loud, aggressive, and cocky. Right up my alley. When I played football I would carry the ball like him, wear my head band around my neck, wear a bandana like him, wear his shoes, and do his dance. When I would play baseball I would try to bat like him, which didn’t work well because he was left handed and I was right, but I just couldn’t shut up about him. I would talk about him to everyone I knew. Because what we love, we share. This is why the Psalms are full of people praising God, for when we most love him, we are most satisfied in him as John Piper would say. God wants us to know that no matter what season of life we are in, we should keep him first, for when we do, we are of the most benefit to our heart, household and community. What we love we share with our voice and our life.

Transition

In our text today, Jesus tells his followers that they are salt and light. Followers of Jesus will penetrate deeply, proclaim boldly, and bless intentionally.

To understand what it means to penetrate deeply, we must examine the reason for salt.

First, salt can enhance everything it interacts with. A little bit of salt goes a long way! My wife and daughter are always watching “Worst Cooks in America,” and the number one thing the contestants on the show hear is “needs more salt.” They are being told that their dish is bland, boring, and undesirable. But just a little bit of salt would bring the dish to life! As followers of Jesus, we often shrink back, or believe and live out the lie that to be a follower of Christ is to lack boldness, and zeal for life. But Jesus says, if you really know me, everywhere you go should be deeply flavored by your presence. In order for others to taste and see the Lord’s goodness we have to missionally move in our communities enhancing everything we interact with.

Salt also prevents the spread of decay. As followers of the way of Jesus our job is to oppose corruption, and prevent its spread by penetrating deeply into areas of society that are disbelieving the truth of the gospel, and believing the lies of corruption. By calling us salt Jesus is teaching us that when we share him with our lives in our households and communities which are our workplaces, neighborhoods, sports leagues, our schools etc. we will be preventing the decay and corruption that Satan longs to reign in his place. We share what we love. How are we deeply forming our communities? Are we enhancing everything that we interact with by flavoring our interactions with Jesus shaped lives? Are we stopping the movement of decay and corruption by preserving the gospel truth?

Proclaim Boldly

Not only are followers of Jesus intended to deeply form our communities by enhancing and preserving, but we are also called to proclaim him boldly with our voices and our lives.

Jesus calls us the light of the world, suggesting that the world is in darkness despite its continuing claims to enlightenment! But we are only the light as we reflect him.