Matthew 5:13-16 (English Standard Version)
(13) You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
(14) You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
(15) Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
(16) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
A lot of Christians wonder about their place in the kingdom and what their calling is. All of us born again bible believing Christians are called to be Salt shakers and Light bulbs.
SALT SHAKERS
Verse 13 of Matthew 5 tells us that we are the salt of the earth. What does salt do? Salt is beneficial in a number of ways. It is a preservative and seasoning. Salt can keep foods from spoiling and it will bring out the natural goodness and flavor. Disciples of Christ are to be to the world what salt is to food.
It does not take an Einstein to figure out that the shaker is of no use on it's own. It must contain salt and the salt is what preserves and seasons. However it is not good enough for the shaker to just have salt in it...the salt must be shaken out. Once the salt lands on the food you don't see it but one taste of the food and you know that it has been there and done it's job.
Just as salt must have a container so that it can be shaken...we as Christians must be WORD containers before we can be WORD shakers.
(13) You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
(14) You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
(15) Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
(16) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
A lot of Christians wonder about their place in the kingdom and what their calling is. All of us born again bible believing Christians are called to be Salt shakers and Light bulbs.
SALT SHAKERS
Verse 13 of Matthew 5 tells us that we are the salt of the earth. What does salt do? Salt is beneficial in a number of ways. It is a preservative and seasoning. Salt can keep foods from spoiling and it will bring out the natural goodness and flavor. Disciples of Christ are to be to the world what salt is to food.
It does not take an Einstein to figure out that the shaker is of no use on it's own. It must contain salt and the salt is what preserves and seasons. However it is not good enough for the shaker to just have salt in it...the salt must be shaken out. Once the salt lands on the food you don't see it but one taste of the food and you know that it has been there and done it's job.
Just as salt must have a container so that it can be shaken...we as Christians must be WORD containers before we can be WORD shakers.
We must be out there in the world doing our good works no matter how far under the radar those task may be. The best representatives of Christ are usually not the ones out there in the limelight with the media spotlight and massive crowds but it is the everyday normal man or woman that is faithful to walk the walk of the gospel of Christ in meekness, humility & love.
In verse 14 Jesus says..."you are the light of the world". He's saying "You are not just a reflection of the light. You're not a mere conduit. You are the light itself. And the intensity of your light depends upon the intensity of your walk with me."
Jesus disciples have the kingdom life within them as a living testimony to those in the world who do not yet have the light.
Your neighbors and coworkers may not know about your daily communion with Christ, but they do see the light that shines from you because of the life you have with Him. As long as nothing hinders that life, your light will continue to shine in darkness.
A light bulb still in the box will not give light. It has everything it needs to provide light however it cannot work until it is connected to the light producing source such as a lamp. Therefore, Christ is the lamp that we connect too so that we can shine our light. John 1:4 says ...In him was life, and the life was the light of men. Where there is no WORD LIFE, there can be no light for others.
Jesus tells us in verse 16 to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Everything we do must be done to bring glory to heavenly Father.
The typical lamp in a Jewish home was fairly small and was placed on a stand to give maximum illumination.
We are to be out there in the darkness...shining our light like a city on a hill that can't be hidden... while standing on the Rock of Ages.
So today let's get out there and shake some salt and shine some light.
See You In The Word,
Janetta
Hi Janetta!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about the lamp in the Jewish home. I have seen pictures of what you are talking about and I wondered at the time how it could light much around it. When I read that sentence about the lamp, I was reminded of this Scripture:
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me." John 12:32
You said:
"Just as salt must have a container so that it can be shaken...we as Christians must be WORD containers before we can be WORD shakers."
I REALLY like that statement.
And may I humbly add "before we can become WORLD shakers!"
Thank you.
Debbie G.
www.cgcbiblestudy.blogspot.com