Shining Brightly Through Lives Well Lived
Daily Scripture
Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used everyday images to show his followers how to function in the world. “In the ancient world, salt was used for flavoring and preserving food, as an agent for cleansing, and for other things as well…. Jesus uses salt and light to suggest that disciples aren’t expected to live or work for themselves but for others. Moreover, their focus isn’t just Israel (or the church), but the whole world (cf. Isaiah 42:6; 49:6).” *
- Jesus emphasized that his followers should be “salt” and “light” in the world, making a positive difference. Salt preserves and enhances, light illuminates and guides. These metaphors challenge us to consider the impact of our daily lives on those around us. How can you be “salt” and “light” in your everyday interactions this week? What small, intentional actions could you take to bring out the best in others or shed light on a difficult situation?
- Jesus also warned against hiding our light or losing our “saltiness.” Like Jesus, the apostle Paul said our faith should make a visible impact (cf. Colossians 3:17). How would your life be better if you shopped “in the name of the Lord Jesus”? Rooted for the Chiefs “in the name of the Lord Jesus”? Voted or did your job “in the name of the Lord Jesus”? Does it feel “heavy” or hard to think of expanding Jesus’ effect on your life to all you do? What might make it freeing and joyous?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, in this darkened, lonely, hurting world, make me more and more transparent so that your light can shine out of me every day like a beacon, spreading love, grace and peace. Amen.
GPS Insights
Denise Mersmann
Denise Mersmann serves as the Care Coordination Director for the churchwide Care Central department at Church of the Resurrection.
I love this passage of scripture. Maybe it’s because I have a deep love for potato chips. It’s the saltiness of the potato chip that gets me. And I believe when Jesus calls us to be salt of the earth, it can’t be just a sprinkle. We need to hit it hard and pour it on in handfuls. Let me explain.
I’ve spent many years in KiDSCOR singing “. . . hide it under a bushel, NO! I’m gonna let it shine” hundreds of times. I love to watch cooking shows and the thing that I have noticed is that when a chef salts food, they really hit it hard! Recently I watched one of my Food Network favorites say, “Now I’m going to add a pinch of salt” and it looked more like a handful than a pinch!
The thing is, when it comes to cooking these chefs are the best of the best. They own Michelin starred restaurants and write cookbooks to share their wisdom. They continue to come up with new and amazing dishes. And they talk about properly salting a dish regardless of what other seasoning they are using.
So, what does this have to do with our Scripture? I think quite a bit.
That’s why when Jesus calls us to be salt of the earth, it can’t be just a sprinkle. There needs to be enough salt in us to be noticed. Just like too little salt in a dish leaves it bland and doesn’t make an impact, holding back on our faith, our saltiness, can keep us from being our best and living our lives to the fullest.
In truly delicious food, salt is often the first of many seasonings that go into a dish because salt heightens the other flavors. Our salty faith enhances our awareness of and compassion for others. It helps us see and respond to people. It makes the best qualities in each of us even better.
Salt doesn’t just enhance savory foods. Salt shows up in most desserts and sweet dishes also. My grandma always said that salt highlights sweetness and makes the food taste even sweeter. The same is true of our faith; we are people of faith in all ways and circumstances. Our faith changes who we are and how we see things. In the worst of times, being salty can help us see God’s presence, so that we can feel assured things will work out. Our salty faith makes good times even better.
I encourage you to get salty. Just like chefs add salt to all their dishes, let’s add salt to all the spaces and places in our lives. Don’t just sprinkle a little here and there, really pour it on. Pour it on by the handful! Let our saltiness be evident in all our relationships, our love for our neighbors, and in our workplace. Let’s be so wonderfully salty that when people encounter us, they taste the salt!
Come on–let’s sprinkle our salty faith everywhere, and when you think you have done enough, give it one more little shake.
© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Eugene Eung-Chun Park and Joel B. Green, study note on Matthew 5:13-14 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 13 NT.
