Being Salt and Light

"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 by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -Jesus (Matthew 5.13-16)

I have been very proud of my church family, especially recently, as they have loved their neighbors by hosting Vacation Bible School, accomplishing The Great Giveaway, and Loving Spokane. Being a church is more than meeting at a certain time in which we do certain things. We've done things before to interact with and impact our community but never at this level. I know many of us were really tired last weekend, but I don't know of any of us who regretted being tired. It was especially gratifying to see one of the recipients of our loving Spokane worshipping with us Sunday.

Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." In that passage he was signifying the type of death he would experience. However, I also think you can mix that with what was quoted above to grasp one of the purposes of being the church of Christ.

Jesus changed the world when he entered it. Jesus changed my world when he entered it. Jesus changes worlds. As Jesus' people, we are given the power to change the world. Remember Acts 17.6? What about Acts 16.20? God's people, when they are being like Jesus, rock the foundations of the "world" as did their savior. When we choose to be salt and when we choose to be light, when we choose to lift Jesus up in the way we live our lives, the way we spend our time, the way we conduct our selves and our businesses, then we cannot help but rock people's worlds.

To be salt is to enrich people's quality of life. It is to wash their feet, to bind their wounds, etc. Love Spokane was a salt day. We made people's lives tastier. To me, to be light is to enlighten people through Bible study, conversations about God (which lead people to deeper faith in or understanding of Him), or teaching people how to live in a holy way. A life of salt and light is necessary to show people Jesus does change worlds and that Jesus can change their world.

May God grant us more opportunities to be salt and light to the people of our community.