Matthew 5:13-16
Introduction:
“And JESUS went about all Galilee
teaching in their Synagogues, preaching The Gospel of The Kingdom and Healing
all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His Fame
went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were
afflicted with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed,
epileptics; and He Healed them all. Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee
and Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes He
went up on a mountain and when He was seated His disciples came to Him; then He
opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” Matthew 4:23-5:2
:13”You are the Salt of the earth;
but if the sault loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for
nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
JESUS continues His Teachings going
from our being Blessed when we are persecuted for His Name and sake. Regular salt
is a mineral that is used to preserve and to season, its modern uses include
prevention of icing on roadways during freezing weather.
How does that apply to the
Christian Life? The Church is to have a preserving effect on our communities
and countries. The Church is to be an integral part of society having a
positive effect on the lives of Christians and non-Christians. We are to
preserve morality and integrity everywhere we live, work and play; we should be
having such a positive effect that those around us want to be like us!
So how do we lose our saltiness?
When Christians do not get involved with the issues of their society and
government, then we lose our saltiness; we become tasteless and undesirable to
those around us. If you are a Christian you have to be a Christian everywhere
you go! Your opinion does not count if you do not express it to people who
might not agree; true influence comes from honest discussions about morality
and integrity, but only if our lifestyle matches our words! Like JESUS, we have
to live our words!
:14-16 “You are the light of the
world! A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden! Nor do they light a lamp
and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are
in the house. Let your Light so Shine before men that they may see your Good
Works and Glorify your Father in Heaven.”
Everyone understands that Light
drives out darkness, the brighter the Light the fewer shadows and shades there are
for sin to hide in.
This is the same theme as the
salt, we first must be lit, there are many dim lights and bright lights that
take away from The Gospel Message and some of them are in the Church! Our Life
is to be a Light to the lost to draw them out of the darkness of sin. If we are
not bright with the Light of GOD’s SPIRIT and Word then we are not doing what
JESUS is telling us we should be doing!
So how do we get our lamp lit? By
Believing in JESUS as The Son of GOD Who takes away the sins of the world (that
is everybody’s sins – if they Believe and Confess Romans 10:8-13). When we Repent
(confess our sins and stop sinning) and Believe in JESUS CHRIST as our Savior,
then GOD The Father gives us His SPIRIT to live in us (John 14:15-18; 2 Corinthians
6:11-18). Then we must read and study The Bible so that we can know GOD and
what He expects of us as his Children and Servants (Deuteronomy 30:11-20; Psalm
119:105; Proverbs 13:9, 20:20).
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