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. (Matthew 5:13 – 16)
“The world is a mess.” How often have you heard that statement? You could almost excuse a Christian for having as little as possible to do with the world, right? After all, policy makers, schools, businesses and sometimes even religious institutions don’t share our value system; and it appears that people are getting meaner. Let’s examine what the Bible has to say about engaging or not engaging with the world.
The passage above from Matthew 5 will serve as our reference for discussion over the next three days. Then, when we are done with this Group Bible Study we will spend the next 6 weeks exploring the value we bring to A World in Need by practicing Spiritual Disciplines. Today, we will discuss salt and tomorrow we will discuss light.
Please set aside 15 minutes without distraction. If possible, find a place that you can escape to daily and start by asking God to guide you. Read the passage above and consider the questions below.
Questions:
- Salt? Really? But we know Jesus doesn’t make mistakes, so why does he compare Christians to salt?
- In comparing Christians to salt, Jesus shines a light on how they are impacting the world. In your sphere of influence, how do you act like salt?
Sharing your thoughts could be a big help to someone else. Please leave a comment on the blog.
February 26, 2020 at 8:22 am
Thank you for adding me in the loop. I’m always waiting for this 40 days of discipline program at this time of the year. I’m blessed by this study every time lenten and easter comes our way.
I hope all is well with you Norman and the whole family.
About Christians as salt of the earth, to me it’s a metaphor of like if there is salt in food with the right amount, it will become tastier and
many would love to eat it. As Christians, we should continue to grow like a salt that never loses its flavor. If others see how Christians live with joy and compete trust in Jesus, our creator and redeemer, then non believers will be encouraged. There will be eagerness to know why having relationship with Christ is worth having in this world. To keep our flavor appealing , like salt the gives flavor to food, we as Christians have to be steadfast and vigilant in relying on God’s word and keeping fellowship with the Lord.
February 26, 2020 at 8:25 am
Great to have you on board Aurora. All is well at this end. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
February 26, 2020 at 10:28 am
Thank you for this study again .
Just as we need salt in our diet, I like to feel that I too can be the grains of flavour in my daily journey. Whether meeting others or interacting on the phone, internet or dealing with the every day chores. There are ways to share and indeed absorb good salt from others. I like to think that our spiritual crystals form shiny clusters waiting to gather more then happily dispurse to be attached to others.
February 26, 2020 at 9:14 pm
Thanks for joining us again JacQuie!
February 26, 2020 at 11:03 am
Hello Everyone
Thank you Norman for being the salt for this Lenten season.
Both answers add to my understanding of the passage.
I think he uses salt just the same as he uses light.
It depends on how much we add.
Of course in reality salt can raise your blood pressure if you suffer from..
I am in Florida again this year and I am in the schools so it is a challenge.
Each day I shake my head as to how bad the system is.
Only when I am conscious of how I should act as one who follows Christ do I add salt in just the right amount to situations I encounter.
Jesus knows that the world was and is not an easy place so he tells us to be the salt and light hence we have to interact with the world.
February 26, 2020 at 9:16 pm
Hi Yasmin – we really appreciate having you on board despite the challenge.
February 26, 2020 at 11:56 am
1. Salt is a preservative so we are to preserve the teachings of Christ: love other and live God. Salt – epsom salt – heals, relieves – Christ followers are mediums to healing to the world.
2. I sometimes find it hard to be salt in the place I spend most of my awake hours, work. The demands and stress at times keep me in my office away from the group and most interactions have a specific purpose. I need to be more purposeful in making time for unplanned interactions. Even in the small things I pray I will display salt like properties that will have an impact.
February 26, 2020 at 12:00 pm
It’s great meeting on this forum again, you are all welcome.
We Christians are the one to give the world meaning, it’s true meaning and by so doing we are giving the salt-less world the much needed taste of the tasteful word of God.By proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
May God help us to continue to advance the kingdom of God to the tasteless world, amen.
Dr OTAJELE DANIEL
February 26, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Salt is a vital and essential mineral for humans, without it we would be impaired (weakened or damaged). That’s what a Christian should be in and to the world a vital and essential component. I act as salt when I immerse myself into unfamiliar settings especially ones where Christ is not the main focus.
February 26, 2020 at 1:36 pm
I am convinced that God has blessed everyone with a skill or talent. For some identifying this gift takes time or trusting in the people God has placed in our lives to assist us in pointing out our gifts. The other area is accepting that God has blessed each one of us, and willingly accept the calling to assist others. I am extremely happy to participate in this study. Terrance
February 26, 2020 at 2:26 pm
When I think of salt, I think about how it makes my food taste better. Food without salt, to me, is bland, tasteless, and unappealing.
I act like salt when my actions, words, and faith bring “flavor”, peace, and happiness to the environment I am in. As Christians, we should be as such that people want more of us, like they’d want more of a tasty meal. Our Godly actions are our salt/contributions/seasoning to the Earth. When we don’t live as Christians should, we can lose our saltiness/flavor, to the point where we become bland and tasteless to the people around us.
We should make a conscious effort to be the salt of the Earth that God wants us to be.
February 26, 2020 at 7:06 pm
When salt is contaminated with other minerals it causes weakness in flavor or unpleasant taste.
I believe like us if we deviate from the truth and involve ourselves with things that are not pleasing to God we become contaminated and our witness for God is not effective. Many times I have failed to be salt, God forgive me.
February 26, 2020 at 9:13 pm
It is so good to see familiar names from the previous years of our journey. Thank you all for your contributions. Salt had a different level of significance at the time Jesus used it to illustrate how we should interact with the world. However, it is still the case that if it is pure, it makes what it is applied to “better”. Your answers emphasize this point and remind us of our purpose.
February 27, 2020 at 2:06 am
Give thanks Norman for your consistency and leadership on our new journey over the next 40 days. As salt is an enhancer, we must strive to do the same in the lives of all of whom we interact with, family, friends and strangers. I pray to maintain my saltiness with the help of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual disciplines of this study.
February 27, 2020 at 9:45 am
Greetings to all. Thank you Brother Norman for another opportunity to participate in the 40 Day Discipline.
In terms of the Matthew 5:13-16 Biblical verse, I believe that we are being encouraged to let our spiritual light shine within this world. We were designed for a purpose in order to glorify God and become the salt/flavor within this world. My constant prayer is that I might decrease so that the Holy Spirit might increase during my interactions with family, friends, and the general public.
Have a Blessed week.
Lauren W.