Wednesday, January 11, 2012
You are Valuable
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.
Blessed people are
valuable people. People who are poor in spirit, who mourn, the meek, the hungry
and thirsty, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and the
persecuted are valuable commodities to culture. Jesus said it and we need to
believe it. To demonstrate the impact
these people can make on culture, Jesus employs two common metaphors: salt and
light. Salt and light were extremely
important to people in the first century. These commodities are important
today. Think about eating food without salt. Think about living life without
light.
Salt not only season’s
food but it also preserves food. In a day without refrigeration salt would keep
meat from rotting. Salt also creates thirst. Jesus is teaching that our lives
should flavor and preserve and create thirst.
Does your life reflect those characteristics? Salt can lose its value when it is mixed with
other things.
Light is meant to
shine and give direction. Salt is
subtle, light is obvious. Salt is hidden
but light is visible. Our value as light is evident – like a city set on a hill
or a lamp set on its stand. A concealed
lamp is useless. Light radiating people
live so that others see their good deeds and give praise to the Father in
heaven. Light shines from us not bring
attention to ourselves but to God. Letting our light shine means allowing
people to see the beauty the Lord is working in us. In Judges 7 there is a story that illustrates
how we let our light shine. Gideon is commanded to reduce his army down to 300
men before fighting the Midianites. The battle strategy was to put trumpets and
empty jars into all of the men’s hands. Inside the empty jars were torches
(light). When Gideon’s army reached the edge of the Midianite camp, they blew
their trumpets, broke their jars and let their light shine. The Midianites freaked out and fled. Likewise,
we are valuable when Christ fills us with His light and we can break open our
lives and let His light shine through.
Paul writes these words
in 2 Corinthians 4: 7-12 (CEV), illustrating the glory that God receives from
shared light.
7We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The
real power comes from God and not from us. 8We often
suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never
give up. 9In times of trouble, God is with us, and
when we are knocked down, we get up again. 10-11We
face death every day because of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like,
so that his life can also be seen in us. 12This
means that death is working in us, but life is working in you.
Where is God calling you
to be salt and light? Will you obey Him?
You are valuable to a dark and flavorless culture.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see myself like you see me.
Help me to believe what you say about me and not what I think or feel about
myself. I am the salt of the earth. I am the light of the world. Let me shake
and shine for You today. AMEN!
Post a Comment