Matthew 5: 13-20
“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.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
“Do not think that I come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
“Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
A Thought
When we accept Jesus by faith, we are to become the image of him to the world in which we live by our words that we speak and the deeds that we do. We are to live in a manner to be the salt of the earth: we are to represent the gospel in a manner that will bring newness of life–by adding flavor, preserving life and to bring glory to God. Here are some helpful uses of salt today: Will soothe a bee sting, eliminates a grease fire, stops smoke and odor from forming, kills poison ivy, helps to identify a rotten egg, repels fleas, kills grass, removes frost from windshield, cleans and removes stains and preserves meats.
The Law and the Prophets was a standard of God that was a way of revealing the right way to live but it did not provide a way to fully accomplish it. We were all born into sin through the sin of Adam. Sin can be removed by the shedding of the blood of Christ when we accept him. Therefore, Christ is the completion of the law making it possible to fulfill the commands to enter the kingdom of heaven. The Pharisees had an outward form of righteousness. Now we can be the righteousness and light of Christ by faith in him.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for giving your Son for the way of salvation by faith to the world. Help us as your children to reflect the light of Christ to all that we meet so they can be cleansed and preserved in you. We desire to bring glory to you. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
