In an attempt to make the navigation of the reading as easy as possible, all of the verses have been pulled from www.biblegateway.com and linked appropriately so that you can simply click highlighted words and be taken directly to the verse.
To begin, click the link below to read the passage that we will be diving into and studying together this month.
SALT AND LIGHT
Book: Matthew
Author: Matthew the Tax Collector; One of Jesus' Disciples
Date Written: AD 58-68
Genre: Gospel
Audience: It is thought that Matthew was possibly writing to a Jewish audience due to the large amount of Old Testament quotes.
Purpose: The Gospel of Matthew tells a story of God's redemption through Jesus, as it relates to Jewish Christians. It brings to light Jesus' fulfillment of the Scriptures as the long-awaited promised Messiah.
Key Verses: Matthew 5:13-16
Last month, we studied the Beatitudes and the concept of what it means to be blessed. This month, we shift our focus to what our lives should look like and our purpose as followers of Jesus.
I want you to take a minute and think about the essentials in your home—items you never run out of. Things like toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, and perhaps, salt. I am not sure about you, but salt is a daily necessity in our home. It is used for a specific purpose. And its purpose offers us a glimpse into the purpose of our lives as Christians.
In Matthew 5:13, Jesus continued His teaching, by saying "You are the salt of the earth." But why this metaphor? Why salt? In Mark 9:50 and Luke 14:34, we read that "salt is good." In this context, "good" means "good as to effect or influence, useful, profitable" (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible). Jesus tells us that we are blessed only through Him, and this blessing reveals our missional calling—our purpose. We are to be the salt to those around us. We are to season the world with the knowledge of the goodness of Christ. Not only does it bring season and flavor but salt also preserves. As Christians, we are to preserve the inspired, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient words of the Bible and share them with others. Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Others come to know Jesus and the saving Faith that is found in Him alone because of the Words of the One True God.
Salt holds value and purpose for our lives and for those around us. However, if salt loses its saltiness, it becomes ineffective and useless. Verse 13 tells us that if salt loses its taste, “It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” Similarly, our faith must remain genuine, impactful, and purposeful as we seek Jesus and preserve the truth of God's Word.
Something else that I value in my home is light. Light brings vision and clarity to our surroundings, preventing accidents and providing direction. Without light, our direction is hindered and we are more likely to stump our toe or fall down the stairs. Light brings truth and because of Jesus living in us, we have received the light for our own lives. And with this light, we are also to shine this same light to the dark world around us. Our lives are to bring clarity, purpose, and understanding to the unbelievers and those living in darkness.
This light is not meant to highlight ourselves but to reveal who we are because of Jesus' transformative work in us. Without Jesus, we have no salt and no light. We are blessed only because of our connection to Him. Jesus didn't instruct us to work hard to become salt and light; He simply declared, "You are the salt and the light." As followers of Christ, we are only what we are because He is what He is.
With this identity as salt and light, we have a purpose and a calling. In Matthew 5:16, we read, "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Our works do not save us; instead, they flow from our love and dedication to a Holy God who saved us, set us apart, and made us distinct and purposeful. Our actions, attitudes, hearts, and lives should all ultimately bring glory to God, the only one worthy of our praise.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on our lives. What are we portraying to the world around us? Are we bringing salt and light to our surroundings? My hope today is to encourage you to examine the purpose for which you've been placed here.
As Christians, we are not meant to live this comfortable, quiet life focused ONLY on ourselves, our homes, our wants, and our desires. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, burial, and resurrection, we have been offered the opportunity to be forgiven, redeemed, and restored back to a right relationship with God. And as we accept His free gift we are to stand out to the world. We are to look different, act differently, think differently, love differently, and respond differently. We are to preserve the truth and point others towards Jesus, our Savior.
Would you pray with me?
Almighty God, we come to you today praising you because you are Holy! There is none like you. You are the Sovereign Creator of everything. You are all-powerful, all-knowing, you are unchanging and never-ending. We thank you for the blessing of Salvation and we pray that our lives will continuously reflect the salt and light of you living in us and working through us so that we can bring honor and glory to you, as we make your name to the world around us. We pray that You will give us strength and wisdom to set our hearts and minds on eternity and help us to live our lives in a way that points others to You.
Amen
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