February: Matthew 5:13-16

You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

13 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything  except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Why does the scripture refer to us as the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world"? What does salt and light have to teach us about God and his reign on earth?

Salt was a valuable commodity back in the day. People traded with it, the same way we trade with gold and stock; it had great value. It was very useful in hot climates before the electricity and refrigeration was invented; in addition to providing flavor to food, it was used to preserve meats, keeping them from spoiling. The importance of salt is where we come in. Jesus used the image of salt to describe how his disciples are to live in the world. As salt purifies and preserves, so must the disciple in the world of human society by purifying and preserving society for His righteousness and peace.

Light was, and still is, very important to society; it enabled people to see, move, and work in the dark. The Bible uses light in the physical sense, but also in a metaphorical sense - the Jews understood "light" as an expression of inner beauty, truth, and the goodness of God. In the book of Psalms, we see how light takes on a conceptual meaning: In his light we see light (36:9); His word is a lamp that guides our steps (119:105). God's grace not only illuminates the darkness in our lives, but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace. Just like salt, Jesus uses the image of light/a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illuminates the darkness and enables one to see clearly, so does the light of Christ shining in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God's kingdom. Our lifelong mission is to always be the "light-bearers" of Christ so that other may see the truth of the gospels and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception. Nothing can be hidden or a secret. While we may hide things from each other and from ourselves, and be tempted to shut our eyes and selves from the consequences of our sins, everything is known to God, who sees all. And yet, there is a great freedom and joy that comes from living in God' light and from seeking the truth always. We have all fallen to the temptation to hide from the consequences of our sins, but as we learned in last month's lesson, Jesus was sent here for our sins; can we all follow His Son and learn to correct our ways? Can you share if you know the joys and freedom of living in God's light?

Prayer of the month: Lord, fill my heart and mind with your light and truth and set me free from the blindness of sin and deception.  Guide me through the dark so that I may see your ways and understand your will for my life and those around me. Help me radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.




Note: Come to church on February 13!! The Youth Group will be leading the English Service, and I will be there to lead a Young Adult discussion! I hope to see you all there :)