“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. 

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

The passage above is a portion of the Sermon on the Mount, a series of powerful teachings Jesus gave at the beginning of his ministry. Here, He uses salt and light as a metaphor for how we, as followers of Christ, are to influence the world. Salt, as we all know, enhances the flavor of whatever it is added to, and was historically used as a way to preserve food. Light, of course, removes darkness and makes things visible.

Salt and light each have very distinct qualities and unmistakable when present. They also function to modify and transform whatever they are added to. Similarly, Jesus calls us to stand out and be set apart from the ungodliness and sinful nature of this world, and to better the world with our good works, for the glory of God. We also have to be careful not to allow the world to influence us, but rather, be the ones to set the standard for what is good, according to the Bible. Sometimes, this can be challenging to do, especially when we live in a society that is actively against the Bible. What the Bible deems good, society says is bad and what the Bible deems bad and even sinful, the world says is good. However, living against the norms of society when it is in opposition to the teaching in the Bible is an essential aspect of our faith and the key to being able to do this is by aligning ourselves with the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2

This renewing of our minds comes from reading God’s Word. The more we learn about Him and the more we learn about Him, the better we become at being lights in this world like Christ. Generously serving others, sharing our faith and testimonies, encouraging those who are in difficult circumstances are a few more practical ways we can positively impact those around us and be that salt and light Jesus is talking about. Most importantly, we must also allow the Holy Spirit to continuously transform our hearts so that we can remain in alignment with God’s will which means daily dying to ourselves and our flesh so that we can discern His voice and direction.

What we do on this earth is very important. As children of God, we are His representatives on this earth, and our actions reflect what we claim to profess. If we profess to serve a just, righteous, and loving God, how can we not act in accordance with these principles?

This week, I encourage all of us to look for opportunities to be the salt and light in our communities, whether at school, work, church, or elsewhere, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, be intentional about standing out for God through our actions. I pray that God gives us the boldness and courage to be beacons of light and love those around us.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:13-16; Romans 12:2