“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 trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

We are all becoming something. As we become like Jesus, we will begin to do what Jesus did. This process of ‘doing’ is a demonstration to a watching world that we are in fact changed by the power of the Gospel. Jesus gives two illustrations to help articulate how we become more like Him. Salt and light are two pictures the people listening to Jesus would have understood and He gives a wild illustration for each of them - Salt that has lost its saltiness and a lamp being lit and put under a basket. These are things that would not happen. You add salt to gain flavor, not to salt your salt. You light a lamp to provide light, not to hide it and create darkness. In the same way, as those who have been marked by the saving power of God, and gifted the Holy Spirit, we do not continue down the same path and take what has been given to us and place it under a basket. Rather, we demonstrate the reality of Christ through the way we live and testify to this salvation in word and deed.

YOU are the salt of the earth. YOU are the light of the world. You are the representation of the Kingdom of God in our day, set free by the Gospel and empowered by the Holy Spirit. For what purpose? To point a watching world to the power of God.

Pray:

> That the Lord would reveal areas in your life where the saltiness is gone or where the light has dimmed - places that you are not demonstrating life change in Christ. As the Lord reveals these areas confess and repent.

> That the Lord would give you a heart like His for the world around you.

> That the Lord would give you opportunities to demonstrate the Gospel through your words and actions.

> That specific people would come to faith in your circle of influence.