Matthew 5:13-16
"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything...You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
From the Biblical records we have of what Jesus said during his life, we can quickly gather that this Man had his own "flavor" of speech. Though he was sometimes straightforward in his message, often times Jesus used parables, metaphors, and even humor in his lessons. (To learn more about Jesus' humor, come to this event!) These creative parables made Jesus' lessons easier to remember and share.
A particular passage that has recently caught my attention is the Similes of Salt and Light, found in Matthew 5:13-16. There are plenty of metaphors and messages shared in this passage, as Jesus addresses us, his disciples.
In a way I feel that Jesus is calling us to be courageous. He calls us the "salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." These are no weak words. Not only does he give us these titles, but he challenges us to be salt and to be light BOLDLY!
Jesus warns us of the danger if the salt loses its taste.
Perhaps the "salt" is us: we creations.
Perhaps its "flavor" is our relationship with our Creator.
With this metaphor, Jesus is saying that if we (salt) lose our closeness with God (taste), there is nothing else in the world with which we can become fulfilled (flavorful) again. God is the source of you and me, the source and flavor of life.
True communion with God leads us to a desire to become like him, to become salt. We are made in his image and likeness, and his "flavor!" Our hearts are consistently magnetized back to the union we once had before the fall of Adam and Eve, back to the union that is made possible through the Man who calls us "salt" and "light."
Jesus knows that to love God is what is best for us. He also knows that sometimes this isn't easy, especially because we are in a place and time that leads us away from the God who is beyond place and time. In other words, we are in a place where we don't belong. Jesus physically lived in this world too, and he knew rejection to the utmost.
This world is full of people who boldly proclaim messages that have no salt. These are people who would rather believe in death than in life. So I say, if they are bold enough to spread lies, then we can and MUST be brave enough to spread the truth! When we do this, God makes it easier to forget about our own egos, and to do good for His glory alone.
With that, I say "Be Brave and Be Salty!"
A little courage to get you started:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2YiqkWZkhU
Peace,
Kristina
"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything...You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
From the Biblical records we have of what Jesus said during his life, we can quickly gather that this Man had his own "flavor" of speech. Though he was sometimes straightforward in his message, often times Jesus used parables, metaphors, and even humor in his lessons. (To learn more about Jesus' humor, come to this event!) These creative parables made Jesus' lessons easier to remember and share.
A particular passage that has recently caught my attention is the Similes of Salt and Light, found in Matthew 5:13-16. There are plenty of metaphors and messages shared in this passage, as Jesus addresses us, his disciples.
In a way I feel that Jesus is calling us to be courageous. He calls us the "salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." These are no weak words. Not only does he give us these titles, but he challenges us to be salt and to be light BOLDLY!
Jesus warns us of the danger if the salt loses its taste.
Perhaps the "salt" is us: we creations.
Perhaps its "flavor" is our relationship with our Creator.
With this metaphor, Jesus is saying that if we (salt) lose our closeness with God (taste), there is nothing else in the world with which we can become fulfilled (flavorful) again. God is the source of you and me, the source and flavor of life.
True communion with God leads us to a desire to become like him, to become salt. We are made in his image and likeness, and his "flavor!" Our hearts are consistently magnetized back to the union we once had before the fall of Adam and Eve, back to the union that is made possible through the Man who calls us "salt" and "light."
Jesus knows that to love God is what is best for us. He also knows that sometimes this isn't easy, especially because we are in a place and time that leads us away from the God who is beyond place and time. In other words, we are in a place where we don't belong. Jesus physically lived in this world too, and he knew rejection to the utmost.
This world is full of people who boldly proclaim messages that have no salt. These are people who would rather believe in death than in life. So I say, if they are bold enough to spread lies, then we can and MUST be brave enough to spread the truth! When we do this, God makes it easier to forget about our own egos, and to do good for His glory alone.
With that, I say "Be Brave and Be Salty!"
A little courage to get you started:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2YiqkWZkhU
Peace,
Kristina