Verse of the Day 2/22

Verse of the Day 2/22

Matthew 5:13-14  "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.  English Standard Version (ESV)

Our men's Bible study group went through this passage today and one of the reactions was how difficult it would be to be salt and light.  There is a feeling of "pressure" or "weight" on our shoulders that we are to be salt and light to those around us.  But a key thing to keep in mind as your read the verses above is that it does not say that "you need" to do this or that, but rather, "you are" salt and light.  It is something that we are as Christians.  In this chapter Jesus states 5 times that "you have heard it said" and follows with "but I say". Moses gave the law originally but did not provide any "power" to follow those laws and regulations.  For us, the law drives us to Christ, we cannot achieve it on our own but Christ rescues us from ourselves and our worry and gives us the grace to live as salt and light.

In Jesus' time, salt was a valuable commodity.  It was used as a preservative put on meats and fish.  It is also used to enhance flavor, bring out the taste in foods.  As such it would add value to foods.  David Jeremiah writes that salt will "change, preserve and add value - three traits that Jesus may have had in mind when He said to His followers were to be the salt of the earth..... Ask God today to help you be a change agent and kingdom "preservationist", and to ad spiritual value to all those that you meet.

Salt that loses it's taste was compared to salt in the Dead Sea region that had been contaminated with other minerals.  It was ineffective in adding taste or preserving food but was spread out on the road to reduce plant growth on the road.  Perhaps this is what Jesus had in mind.

Verse 14 continues with the thought of being useful to those around us, shedding light and through it leading others to Christ.  I'll close with the song still sung by children in Sunday Schools but the message applies to us as well.

This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, this little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine

This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine

All around the neighborhood
I'm going to let it shine
All around the neighborhood
I'm going to let it shine
All around the neighborhood

I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm going to let it shine

Over the next few days, Lord willing, we'll take a look at what we are given to be salt and light.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV