salt and light

today we look at Matthew 5:13-16

¹³"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.     ¹⁴ "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶In 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.

In this passage Jesus says we are salt and light.

Salt was used for 2 main purposes in Jesus day one was to add flavor to foods and that's what Christians are supposed to do add the spice to life in music, though not in a sinful way. After all we Christians are not called to redeem just souls but are to redeem all that sin has stolen including music, art, and other activities

in ancient time salt also preserved food so we help preserve this creation of God's. After all we were made from the dirt of the earth so in fact we are connected to this physical Earth

But there is a warning here that if we lose are saltiness or in other words become impure we are not good anymore

if notice that salt increases thirst so in other words not only should you thirst after righteousness but also make others thirst after God's righteousness

we are also the light of world so we reflect the God's light like the moon reflect the sun's light

matt. 5:10-12

today we look at what may be the most taken out of context beatitude of them all in Matthew 5:10-12

¹⁰ "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.     ¹¹ "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

This applies only when you are persecuted for righteous not for being a jerk, and pointing every little sin you see. Now this beatitude does not mean you should reject a compliment if you get your GED or something

This is a bid paradox as well to have joy if you are hated and lied about. we are lied about all the time in the media just like they were in the apostolic age. there were 2 main lies then

1. They said they were cannibals because of the terms of communion with eating flesh and blood Christ

2. They said Christians were incestuous because they gave a holy kiss and called each other brother

One has to wonder are we blessed here in America, because we don't see that kind of persecution here

I think we are persecuted here. I think when you endure insults, rumors, and false charges you are being what I call a small martyr like John the apostle who was the only one not killed for their faith

The main Jesus says we will be blessed when we a persecuted for his sake is look at the company of prophets that puts us in from Abel in genesis to Zechariah in 2 chronicles. So we are in good company when we are persecuted