eFollowingJesusJan18 - I'm gonna let it shine (read Matthew 5:13-20)

   You are salt.  Salt preserves, purifies, seasons - and we have the privilege as God's people to be salt:  we bring out the best, we protect and prolong life, we have a subtle cleansing effect on the world.  In Bible times, salt was a metaphor for wisdom - and salt was used in the temple sacrifices.  You are salt:  be wise; embrace sacrifice.

   You are the light of the world.  America's colonists felt they were to be this light to the nations.  The Church is to be a lighthouse bringing lost ships home in the night.  "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine" - which isn't smiling sweetly, but living in an exemplary way that refracts like a prism the light of God's grace - but not in a smug way.  Is this why Jesus said our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees?

   When we baptize, we light a candle from the paschal candle, symbolic of Jesus, "the light of the world" (John 8:5), and say "Let your light so shine before others that they may glorify your Father in heaven."

   Lord, I will be Your salt, and Your light.  Even a small, flickering candle banishes darkness from a room.

James

james@mpumc.org

At Myers Park Methodist, you can learn more about being salt and light by coming to our Get Involved Expo: check it out online!

Here is the full text of Matthew 5:13-20 -   13: "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. 14: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15: Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 17: "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18: For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19: Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20: For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.      

The full eFollowingJesus series (thus far!) may be found on our web site.