Matthew 5:13-16
You are like salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes
like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for is to be
thrown out and walked on.
You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill
cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay
pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to
everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see
the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last Sunday, I read the story of Moses and the plagues God sent to
the Egyptians to the students in the 2nd-3rd grade Sunday school class.
I shared this passage from the Contemporary English Version…and it “read” like an action movie!
The children were totally engaged…and eager to hear what came next!
There is nothing wrong with other translations of the Bible…and you may
have noticed that I use at least three in writing these daily messages.
But this particular translation gave the Old Testament story “salt and
light” - and truly captured the attention of the children who heard it.
Many Sundays, I’ve passed out Bibles in the classroom and shared
scripture passages with the children. These Bibles are NIV (New
International Version), which is often difficult for young children to
understand…so there has to be a lot of added explanation, which is not a
bad thing. But often, when we have stop and explain what God is saying, we quickly lose the attention of those to whom we are speaking.
Think about this…it is so easy to hand someone a Bible and say, “Read
this, and you’ll see what God is all about – and what He has to say to
you.” Now just how effective to you suppose this approach would be?
When we add the “salt and light” – our own personal experiences…an
intimate explanation of how the God’s word has affected our own
life…people pay closer attention. God becomes “relatable.” When we
live in a way that demonstrates God’s wisdom, power, love, grace, mercy,
forgiveness and blessings in our own life, others take notice.
This is why we must not “hide our light under a barrel.” We must seek
ways to share God’s message with others…utilize understandable Biblical
translations, both literal and through our own personal witness...offer
demonstrations of the teachings of Jesus in action…and add ”salt” in our
daily servings of Christian discipleship!
The challenge for each of us is to maintain exactly the right balance.
Too much salt can be just as bad as none at all. We don’t want to come
on too strongly. Jesus never forces Himself on anyone…and neither should
we! But we must never shy away from a chance to give others a glimpse
of Jesus in our own daily living.
Go…share…love…SHINE for Jesus!
Prayerfully find the balance of “salt and light” that He wants you to
embody…and watch how others respond to your witness.
Are you “well-seasoned and illuminated” for Jesus? Isn’t it time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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