Being the Salt & Light to the World
A Quick Story…
The story is told of a man who drove on a dark and misty night and came to a bridge that had collapsed over a 1000-foot cliff. He saw it in the nick of time, and with screeching brakes, came to a stop with his wheels over the precipice. The car slid off the cliff just as he got out.
Tragedy
He started to walk back and as he was walking, he saw a car approaching quite fast. He waved and the four people in the car waved back at him! As they sped past him, he thought, how sad that they are not going to see the collapsed bridge. He did not even hear the screeching of the tyres as the car was too fast and never saw that the bridge had collapsed.
Closer to Home
The man kept on walking down the road and soon saw another car and this time, it was a one of the company cars, the one he worked for. He recognized the occupants as being some of his work colleagues. As the car slowed down, they waved at each other, but he did not warn them! Again, he thought to himself, how sad it is that this person would not see the cliff. He heard the screeching tyres as the car went over the bridge into the darkness.
So, on it went as car by car passed him by, he waved, some slowed, some even shouted at him, some he could hear their tyres screeching, like all the others, he did not warn them. His heart continued to feel sad.
Wife & Kids
Finally, he saw a car coming towards him that he knew. This time it was his wife and kids in the car and they were coming at a fast speed. They He waved; they waved and smiled and they sped past him. He could hear the screeching tyres. He thought to himself, what a tragedy… they never knew.
This story is just to tell you the sadness and the tragedy of not warning people about what awaits them after death if you’re not proclaiming Jesus to them, and the need for salvation.
OurMatthew 5: 13-16 reveals the importance of being salt and light to the world.
If you have at least warned people, some may in fact stop, some may be saved, and you would have the joy of seeing God save some from hell.
Historical Background
Jesus after His opening salvo of described the qualities of a disciple that brings joy in Matthew 5: 2-12
You could summarize these qualities and their interrelated impact as follows:
· The quality of humility that recognized the need for mercy that led to showing mercy.
· The quality of mourning over your sin that led to the pursuit of a pure heart.
· The quality of gentleness that leads to being a peacemaker.
· The quality of craving for righteousness that would lead to experiencing persecution.
These qualities have an influence upon the earth (land)
Live your lives according to the beatitudes and you will function as salt and light in this world.
You would be warning people from the devastating impact of sin. Some may in fact be saved.
Proposition
3 Ways Your Life Should Bring Glory to God:
- Your life should have a preserving influence on others – Matthew 5: 13
- Your life and words should be proclaiming Jesus –Matthew 5: 14-15
- Your life and actions should magnify God – Matthew 5: 16
Bible References
Historical Background
- Matthew 5: 2-12
Proposition
- Matthew 5: 13 – You are the salt of the earth.
- Isaiah 30: 24
- Ezekial 16: 4
- Ezra 14: 4
- 2 Kings 2: 19-21
- Leviticus 2: 13
- Ezekial 43: 23-24
- Numbers 18: 19
- 2 Chronicles 13: 5
- Judges 9: 45
- Psalm 19: 7
- Psalm 19: 11
but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.
- John 10: 27-28
- Your life and words should be proclaiming the life of Jesus – Matthew 5: 14-15
- Matthew 5: 13-14
You are the light of the world
- 1 John 1: 5-7
- Isaiah 49: 6
- Matthew 2: -12
- Psalm 119: 105
- Romans 10: 13-17
- 1 Corinthians 1: 21
- 1 Corinthians 4: 5-6
- Colossians 1: 13
- Ephesians 2: 1-5
- John 1: 4-5
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
- John 1: 9
nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
- Your life and actions should magnify God. – Matthew 5: 16
Let your light shine before men.
In such a way that they may see your good works.
- James 2: 17-18
And glorify your Father who is in heaven.
See last weeks sermon here on Matthew 5: 7-12
