We are each designed for a unique and divine purpose. Live yours!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Salt and Light

" "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 trodden under foot by men. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 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" "(Matthew 5:13-16 NRSV).

Some time ago, I spent quite a bit of time researching salt and its significance during the time the gospels were written. The Greeks would have considered being called the “salt of the earth” a very high compliment. Salt was very labor-intensive to produce in a useable form and had to be transported long distances—it was extracted from salt water, so if you didn’t leave near an ocean or sea, it was costly to access it. In other words, it was costly, but highly valued. Not only was salt essential for consumption, and as a preservative for food, but also as an insulator in the stone ovens used to prepare food. Most often, dung or mud was formed into bricks and salt was pressed into the bricks so they would burn longer.

In “The Power of Intention,” Dr. Dyer talks about how we can influence the “energy” that encompasses and enfolds our lives. He contends we have the power to choose light or dark—and that when we choose light, we make a decision to live within the most power. The depiction he gives is to think about walking into a pitch black room and turning on the light switch. The light absorbs the dark and overcomes and overwhelms it. Since we believe Christ is the light of the world, and as His disciples we are to spread His light to the world, we can think about our spreading the Good News as eliminating and absorbing all the darkness/evil in the world!

While we’re busy insulating others from the forces of evil, and sustaining them with the life-giving Good News, we are also to remember that it is the Good News of Jesus Christ that should be our focus! The glory is His. The light emanates and originates from Him. A handwritten note in my bible, from who-knows-when states: the moon has no light of its own—rather it reflects the light of the sun. And we are to reflect the light of the Son.

We are to be the salt and the light for all the lost of the world. We are to offer an alternative to sin and suffering to God’s children. We are to light the way to the Cross for those who have not heard the message of salvation. We are to be the salt of the earth and the light on the hill for all the world. It’s a big job. It’s an important job. But if we think about the job that Christ came to earth to do, it doesn’t seem so difficult. Rather, it feels more like and honor and a privilege to be valued and desired enough to be a disciple of our blessed Savior!

I hope today you shine the light of Christ for everyone you meet. And that you savor the saltiness of God’s word for your life.

Blessings on your journey,
Mary


This devotion was originally posted at Worship for the Weekday, where over 650 devotional messages are available for reprint or republication. Just leave me a message and I'll contact you with details.

3 comments:

Nikki (Sarah) said...

this is the desire of my heart....and I remember when He turned His Light on in my darkness...Great post.

Nana Jul said...

May we sprinkle salt all along our journey! And when we are shaken along the way, I pray what empties out of us is just salt, and lots of it!
Shine on Mary!!
Love,
Julie

RCUBEs said...

I'm praying that I am salty! For His glory! Thank you for this beautiful reminder of what we must do for the One Who started a work in each of us. God bless sister.