"Who I Am in Christ" Matthew 5 - January 26, 2023

Read Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/MAT.5.NIV

. Matthew 5:13-15, “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, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Who I Am in Christ – In Christ, you are salt and light. Jesus tells his followers, “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Now obviously, during Jesus’ time, salt was extremely important. It was a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, and a component of ceremonial offerings, and because of its value, it was even used as a unit of exchange.

So what is Jesus saying? He is telling his followers that God’s people should add some flavor and value to this world. If salt loses its saltiness or flavor, then it’s useless. If we lose our ability to change or influence the world, then are we useless? Well, we certainly lose what is at the heart of being a Christ-follower and that is making a difference for the Kingdom. We are meant to change the world around us for the better in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus continues, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.”

Salt improves food because it tastes different from what it's being placed on. In the same way, light is useful to have because it is different from darkness. Light casts out darkness. Light makes a difference. If the light is hidden, it loses what makes it valuable. Likewise, if we fail to be different in a positive way from the culture around us, then we are Christians in name only. In Christ, we are called to be salt and light, to truly make a difference.

Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, You have called me. Show me how to respond. Give me courage. In Your Name, Amen.

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