Matthew 5:13 “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.”
Matthew 5:14-16 “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.”
During the days that Jesus spoke these words, refrigerators did no exist. Meat was preserved from spoiling by being seasoned with salt.
Secondly, the taste of food is enhanced and made more appealing by the use of salt.
A third quality of salt is that when it is present in food, it creates thirst.
Jesus said that those who follow Him should exhibit these three qualities that salt possesses.
When we are in the presence of unbelievers, our pure speech and righteous actions should serve as a preservative. Just by living an undefiled life in view of other people, they will be ashamed to say and do many of the things that they would otherwise say and do. If we hear a dirty joke or see action that is wrong, we speak up and voice an objection that these kinds of behaviors are not proper.
When a Christian is in the same room with a non-believer, our speech seasoned with salt, preserves their speech.
When people who do not know Jesus see our righteous example, in their spirit they know that this is the kind of life that they should also be living. The salt of good behavior and righteous actions create a thirst for Jesus and the desire for a new life. Jesus is made attractive to others when they can see the kind of life demonstrated, that Jesus is able to give anyone who turns their life over to Him.
Jesus said that if we lose this preserving effect, and fail to create a thirst in others for Him by the way we live our life, “We are good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
One of the major problems within the Christian church today is that those who claim to know and follow Jesus, live compromised lives. While affirming a belief in Jesus, the speech and actions of those who make claims to be a follower of Jesus, are contrary to the life Jesus lived.
Finally, Jesus said that we should let the light of changed life be seen by others. In other words, we should be making a serious attempt at living righteously every day of our life. We should watch our words and choose them carefully. We don’t get involved in gossip and we should never speak negatively about someone in the presence of others..
When people see that we are kind, courteous, thoughtful, patient and generous, they will know that we are this way because Jesus has changed us from the inside out. Then as they are attracted to Jesus by our lives, we will bring praise, honor and glory to the Lord.
This is a major step in our walk with Jesus, that today people would begin to see that we are becoming more and more like Jesus in the practical everyday things that we say and do.
Rob Robinson
