At the Refresh Conference in Secret Harbour WA, pastor John Spencer made a good observation from the Sermon on the Mount. He read the words of Jesus spoken to His disciples in Matthew 5:13-15: "You are the salt of the earth; but if the
salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but
to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 You are the light of the
world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp
and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who
are in the house."
During a talk pastor John mentioned he previously heard this passage preached to urge people to make an effort to be salt and light. He pointed out Jesus did not teach this as an ideal to strive for, but the reality of our identity because of our faith in Jesus Christ: we are the salt of the earth; we are the light of the world. No one can earn status as salt or light because of the efforts of their flesh, just like we cannot call God our Father unless we are born again through faith in Jesus. Because we are the salt of the earth and light of the world we are to recognise this as aspects of our God-given identity and embrace it.
God has created us to be salt and light to have a profound impact on people and this world as Jesus lives His life through us. Salt is flavourful, and light exposes what is in darkness. If salt is to impart flavour to foods, it must be mixed in. Jesus mixed in with the people and spoke the truth of God's Word faithfully. He did not alter the flavour of God's Word because some people would dislike what it said. Jesus continued concerning light in verse Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Just as a lamp was placed in an elevated position to give light to an entire room, so we are to hold God's Word in high esteem. We do good works - not so we might be seen or recognised by men - but because God has prepared them for us to enter into. When we do good works as unto the LORD, God will receive the glory even if we are forgotten. He has seen it, and that is what counts.
Jesus told the disciples they were salt and light so they could be intentional in fulfilling the purposes God intended for them. We are only salt and light by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, so our reliance must remain upon God to live up to our high calling. It was the mistake of the Galatians to be born again by faith in Jesus through the Holy Spirit and then try to earn God's favour through working, and we can also mistakenly think it depends upon us to work to become salt and light by our efforts. Knowing who God is and what He has called us to be instructs us how He has called us to His good purposes, and teachings in the Sermon of the Mount is a great picture of what salt and light looks like: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
During a talk pastor John mentioned he previously heard this passage preached to urge people to make an effort to be salt and light. He pointed out Jesus did not teach this as an ideal to strive for, but the reality of our identity because of our faith in Jesus Christ: we are the salt of the earth; we are the light of the world. No one can earn status as salt or light because of the efforts of their flesh, just like we cannot call God our Father unless we are born again through faith in Jesus. Because we are the salt of the earth and light of the world we are to recognise this as aspects of our God-given identity and embrace it.
God has created us to be salt and light to have a profound impact on people and this world as Jesus lives His life through us. Salt is flavourful, and light exposes what is in darkness. If salt is to impart flavour to foods, it must be mixed in. Jesus mixed in with the people and spoke the truth of God's Word faithfully. He did not alter the flavour of God's Word because some people would dislike what it said. Jesus continued concerning light in verse Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Just as a lamp was placed in an elevated position to give light to an entire room, so we are to hold God's Word in high esteem. We do good works - not so we might be seen or recognised by men - but because God has prepared them for us to enter into. When we do good works as unto the LORD, God will receive the glory even if we are forgotten. He has seen it, and that is what counts.
Jesus told the disciples they were salt and light so they could be intentional in fulfilling the purposes God intended for them. We are only salt and light by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, so our reliance must remain upon God to live up to our high calling. It was the mistake of the Galatians to be born again by faith in Jesus through the Holy Spirit and then try to earn God's favour through working, and we can also mistakenly think it depends upon us to work to become salt and light by our efforts. Knowing who God is and what He has called us to be instructs us how He has called us to His good purposes, and teachings in the Sermon of the Mount is a great picture of what salt and light looks like: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
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