BE SALT OF THE WORLD 

Salt is a preservative, antiseptic, flavoring, and creates thirst. It is also crucial for survival. Refrigerators did not exist during the time of Jesus, so without salt, fish and meat would rot. We need salt to preserve and to survive. However, salt will lose its saltiness when it is contaminated. 

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus reminds us that we are the salt of the world as we have a crucial role in influencing people towards Christ. He also emphasizes that we are “in the world”, but “not of the world” (John 17). However, just like salt, Christians can lose our saltiness when we compromise our Biblical values. If we continue to sin, we will “no longer be good for anything” and we will lose our effectiveness to witness for Jesus. Therefore, we have to associate with other people and model Christlikeness in order to retain our “saltiness”. 

Jesus set an example for us in Mark 2:15-16. When He was dining with His disciples, there were many tax collectors and sinners with them. The religious people saw this and questioned why Jesus was eating and spending time with sinners. When Jesus heard them, He replied, “… I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (v. 17). To influence and lead others to Christ, we need to be intentional and build relationships. By being involved with people who do not know Jesus, we can win them to Christ through our gentle and loving behavior (1 Peter 3:1-2). 

Are we associating with people who do not yet know Jesus? Do we draw people to Christ or away from Him by our behavior? We are all influencers, we all need to be Christ-like! 

BE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

The purpose of LIGHT is to illuminate and to guide. The world is in darkness, and those who are perishing cannot see because “the god of this world”, Satan, “has blinded the minds of the unbelieving” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). We must know the reality of the devil and the reality of the light of God’s truth. Our job is to help people see His truth, being the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). This is not about religion — this is about a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are to shine the light of Christ to others pointing people to the Truth! 

In Matthew 5:14-15, Jesus continues: “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” We put the lamp on a lampstand because we want to share the light. Matthew 5:15 reminds us that as Christians, we are not supposed to hide the light. Verse 16 says “let your light shine”: it is a statement in a permissive imperative tense, meaning you must not hinder your light from shining. We ought to do this so that others may see our good works and glorify God in heaven. We must reflect Jesus in the good works (Gk. kalos) we do so that others will be drawn to Christ and that we may impact their lives and the community we live in.  

To be salt and light is not only about what we do but what we should not do. Philippians 2:14-15 reminds us to check our behavior: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”  

As Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), we must reflect the light of Jesus. Are we walking in the light and reflecting the light of Jesus?    Let us all be influencers for Christ: BE SALT & LIGHT!