By David ReayThursday 31 Mar 2016LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Matthew 5:13-16
13 “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.
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. (NLT)
If you were to go on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? We all acknowledge that Christianity is more than a set of beliefs. We put the beliefs into action. Jesus says that our good works are meant to allow others to see something of the nature of God himself. Our Christian witness doesn’t draw attention to ourselves alone, but through us to God. It is good that people think well of us in terms of our good lives. But they need to see beyond them to the God we embrace.
Jesus sees our witness in terms of salt and light. Salt has two functions. It gives flavour; and so we are to give flavour to our own worlds. They are better because we are in them. Not at all dull or arrogant, but interesting and stimulating. And salt also functions to preserve from decay. And so we, by following Jesus, at least prevent things from getting worse even if we struggle to make things better.
And we are light. We illuminate the best way forward, helping people to live life. We also shed light on Jesus. We point others to him. By observing us and hearing us, others should get some idea of who Jesus is. Of course this isn’t easy: darkness hates the light after all.
Being salt and light is more than a matter of verbally communicating doctrines. It is life lived on the basis of those doctrines. Our good and wise words will only be heard in the context of good and wise actions.
Blessings
David Reay