Salt and Light

So today's Bible study was all about "salt and light" and indeed it was enlightening. I highly recommend digging into God's Word and finding out what others have also to say as commentary to a particular topic.

My study centered around two New Testament Books, Matthew and Mark both have something to say about "salt" and yes light as well.

Matthew 5: 13 - 16 says this:

Believers Are Salt and Light 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. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Mark 9:50 says: " Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

What I took away from my time in God's Word and in the notes and commentaries was something I'd never thought about before. We talk about salt losing its savor and how it is then useless as seasoning. One of the footnotes caught my eye... "Pure salt maintains its flavor. In Israel, some salt was mixed with other ingredients. When it was exposed to the elements, the salt would be 'leached out'. Such leached out salt was used for coating pathways." So then what I had never considered before concerning Matthew 5: 13b ("It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.") was a cultural truth in Jesus' day.

A little light went on as I continued I found the following which I ask you to consider. "If a seasoning has no flavor, it has no value. If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, they are of little value to God. If we are too much like the world, we are worthless. Christians should not blend in with everyone else. Instead, we should affect others positively just as seasoning brings out the best flavor in food." (From footnotes in Life Application Bible)

Now I know that God values me and loves me just as I am. After all I am His child. But what does the world around me see when they look at my life and my character? Does my "light" (the reflected light of Christ in me) shine, am I salt and light to those whose lives I touch on a daily basis. Tonight I challenge you to ask yourself; "Am I a salty Christian? Does the light of Jesus shine in me?". Surely for my own witness I wish to shout a resounding "YES". I don't want to be "trampled underfoot" nor do I wish to trample on the Blood which has redeemed me. I was bought with a price.

In the marketplace common "salt" is pretty cheap but taken in the context of these scriptures Salt and Light are Priceless!