Salt and Light: A look at Matthew 5:13-16

About 5 years ago, I took a deep dive into the word of God. I really wanted to gain an understanding of who Jesus was in my own understanding. I told myself, I couldn't depend on what the world was telling me about who God is, and that I would need to read the Bible for myself. Little did I know that that thought would lead me to really wanting more of God. Daily. Daily I ask for more of Him. Daily He gives me a desire to know him in a way I have never know him before.

Those desires who spurred on a new desire, which is to help others get to know Christ the way I have come to know Him. If you are like me and you used the world as your guiding knowledge about God and it left you lost in the desert, come this way. I have some things from the Biblical perspective that I desire to share with God's people.

I suppose you're wondering where this is going? Yeah I kind of do too. But I'm here for it, wherever God is taking me.

In 2015 Lauren Daigle released here debut album, How Can it Be. This album had a song titled Salt and Light on it that mesmerized me. The lyrics however fell short on my understanding. I wasn't knowledgeable on the word of God. Recently I've gone into this research mode on common Christian sayings and common cultural sayings that have derived from the word of God. Salt and Light was one of those that I've researched.

Matthew 5:13-16

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

This excerpt is from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount teachings.

What I've learned is that most preachers get it halfway right when they go through it.

Jesus says you are salt of the earth not only to express that his followers are preservers of righteousness and holiness, but also as the fertilizers of the seeds of goodness throughout the earth. What good is salt if it has lost it's saltiness he asked? I don't understand that as Jesus asking about the flavor of salt, although, it certainly could be interpreted that way, but what I see and understand now is that salt is a two sided coin. On one side, salt is the preserver. This means it will not allow bacterial growth or the spread of infectious diseases. On the other side it is a fertilizer, which means it promotes the growth of plant life into the light of day.

Salt stops the bad, while promoting the goodness of the earth to come forth to the light.

If we as Christians are to promote the growth of the Goodness of God, we are to spread ourselves over the dirt/filth of the earth and promote the growth of the good seeds that are within it. Just as salt can not do it's job in the container up on a shelf, the seed can't grow without the nourishment provided for it. We all need each other to live. We all need each other's calls and responses to the advancement o the Kingdom of God. If you are salt of the earth you allow God to use you for His goodness. Don't intermingle with the dirt and become like it, but lay upon it and remove the bad and promote the good. When we do this as Christians we also yield our people to the light. We all know the light is truth. It is the revealer of truth. So promoting their growth will lead them to light. When they have light, they see the way to God, and they can continue to grow.

Were we not once there? Weren't you in a place of darkness and somebody, led you to Christ by salting your way and then you saw truth right. This is why we are all called to be the salt of the earth and to reveal the truth of God.

Heavenly Father,

I pray you use your children in all the saltiest ways possible. May we always preserve your word, and promote the growth of your kingdom, while we advance and reveal the truth of who you are in this world. May we always be salt and light.

In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen.