MATTHEW 5:13-16 (ESV)
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
As I read through Matthew 5 (which starts with the Beatitudes) I realized that I may have been reading it wrong all the years of my bible reading. I have always thought the beatitudes was a list of different people groups who are blessed for being in that particular group. As I looked deeper I began to wonder if the beatitudes were much more than a list of how to be blessed. As Jesus is giving the “Sermon On The Mount” he initially appears to making a list of things one can be blessed for. Since my childhood I have spent time trying to figure out which group I fit into and what my blessing, for being in that group, would be. Jesus lays out this idea that those who recognize their need for God (poor in spirit), those who are empathetic to others (mourn), those who are meek (humility) are not only blessed but by being these things they are salt and light. Over the years I think we, or at least I, have redefined what the beatitudes mean and now I’m realizing that it’s not a coincidence that directly after Jesus lays out the beatitudes he begins to talk about His followers. As soon as Jesus moves on from the “blessing list” he talks about how his followers will be mocked, persecuted, and lied about. He then tells us “we are the salt and the light of the world”. This realization got me thinking: How do we, as followers of Jesus, bring flavor (salt) to every situation we are in? How do we, as followers of Jesus, bring light to every situation we are in? If we take a look at our current society we actually will see the opposite in effect when it comes to the beatitudes. In most cases, we are anything but poor in spirit, empathetic, humble, or merciful. It seems that in today’s culture we take pride in our opinion and we want everyone to know it. Our current culture is “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” and make it happen instead of recognizing our need for a dependence on God. If someone disagrees with us or does something we don’t like, we post on social media and never back down or consider the thoughts or feelings of others. Our opinion is right and if someone disagrees they are wrong and we’ll make sure everyone knows. Where’s the meekness? Where’s the need for God? Where’s the mercy?
As I studied through Chapter 5 of Matthew I began to realize that the way we are salt and light is by intentionally living out the beatitudes. We aren’t just blessed when we mourn with others but we are light. We aren’t just blessed when we are humble, but we are salt. We aren’t just blessed when we are merciful, we are like Jesus. All of this has me wondering, “Am I being salt and light?” Am I bringing a different flavor by being less like a culture that seems to be prouder, angrier, more selfish, more resentful, and more divided than it’s ever been; or am I being like Jesus?
I want to be more intentional when it comes to living out the beatitudes. I do believe that this is a “clue” into how to be salt and light in my world. I want to be humble and empathetic to everyone, especially those who don’t look, think or believe like me. I want to be more aware of how I may be “putting my light under a basket” and pursue a life that always recognizes my need for God, always prefers others over myself, and always offers mercy over judgment.
Prayer
Father, thank you for your revelation. Every time I read the scripture I feel like you give me a better understanding. Thank you so much. Please help me recognize areas of my life that “taste like the current culture” and help me bring a new, salty flavor. Help me to be the light by living the way you teach me in Matthew 5. Thank you. I love you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Discussion Questions:
1. What’s one area you struggle with when it comes to living out the life taught in Matthew 5?
2. What’s one place you can intentionally start working to be different by being humble, empathetic, and merciful in your everyday life?
Paul Harris Ministries 