Grace to you and peace, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

I. Introduction: The Power of Light and Salt

Let’s talk about light. Imagine yourself walking into this sanctuary and up to this altar at night when it’s really dark and you’re all alone. There might be some trepidation, some hesitation, as you walk.

 The familiar things: the benches, the pulpit, and lectern, even the altar are invisible until you find at least a small light to cut through the dark. That one light pushes back the darkness, letting you see clearly. 

Now talk about salt, and how it brings out the flavor of food or preserves what would otherwise spoil. Both light and salt transform their environment. That is just what Jesus calls us to do in the world around us.

In the Bible we hear Jesus say, “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.¹” These simple images are profound in the way they remind us of our calling as Jesus’ disciples, His followers. Salt and light are vital to life. Without them, food spoils and darkness prevails.

You’ll see that this week as you read through the Bible in a year. Today you’ll watch the Israelites, in Exodus 32, turn to the golden calf in their impatience. They failed to preserve God’s truth and light. They chose instead to reflect the surrounding culture. Moses’ intercession shines a light on what they are doing and restored their path. There is a necessity for faithful living as salt and light.

Think about your role in God’s plan. We are called to bring preservation and illumination to the world under God’s care and direction. You do that in so many ways. One is how you raise your children. You shine a light on their bad choices and add “salt” if you will, to preserve and improve the good ones.

That’s how God’s guidance sustains and preserves us. We are called to bring salt and light to the world, but their purpose is not to draw attention to themselves but to enhance and illuminate something greater.

II. You Are the Salt of the Earth

Jesus was speaking to a group of regular people who went to work every day, cared for their family every day, or maybe went to school every day. He said to them, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt had immense value in their time. It was used like we do for flavor, but also to preserve food in a time before refrigeration. It was a necessity not a luxury. So much so that it was often used as currency for buying and selling. So what does it mean for us to be salt in the world?

 First, salt enhances flavor. As Christians we bring the flavor of Jesus’ care into a spoiling and broken world. Our words, our actions should point others to Him showing: grace, forgiveness, and hope. We should be a little different, a little set apart from everyone else. We are called to live in a way that tells people we believe in Jesus and reflect God’s love and truth.

 Second, salt preserves. We are called to stand firm in our faith, preserving the truth of God’s Word. Choosing the harder right rather than the easier wrong. Passing those things on to our children, preserving the faith. Passing it on to the place where we live. In a culture often bent on decay, we bring preserving peace.

That’s why Jesus warns, “If salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?²” Salt that has lost its purpose is useless. For us, that means we should live realistically as disciples, not camouflaged, hidden, and blending in with the world around us but standing up for Jesus.

On Thursday when you’re reading through all those offerings in Leviticus chapters 1-4, you’ll see an image of preservation and purification through those offerings. Just as salt preserves, these offerings preserved the covenant relationship between God and His people.

III. You Are the Light of the World

Jesus goes on to say:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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.³

Light was created to be seen. It is meant to be seen. It dispels darkness and reveals what is hidden. Light exposes what is concealed. The Bible says:

…people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. Everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, so where works would be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.⁴

The Light of Christ exposes the truth of God’s love and holiness. As followers of Jesus we reflect His light, not produce our own. Our good works are not done to bring attention to ourselves but to God who gives all good things.⁵ Sometimes we are the means, the tools, by which He brings that good. Jesus said:

[Do these things] so that people may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.⁶

When you pray through Psalm 19 you’ll see that reminder that God’s Word is a lamp to guide our way, transforming us so that we can reflect His light. The Psalm teaches, “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.⁷”

This time of year, although the days are starting to lengthen, we appreciate the importance of light. Whether it’s the headlights guiding us on a snowy night, or the glow of a flashlight when the power is out, light is life-saving. The light of Christ shining from us, through us, is eternal life-saving for those lost in the dark of sin.

How can we shine that light? It can be through small, maybe even inconsequential, acts of kindness: checking on a neighbor, helping out a coworker, or just offering an ear to listen. These moments are like placing a lamp on a stand for all to see.

IV. Living as Salt and Light

Being salt and light isn’t a part-time job. It really is our identity as Christians. Just like salt can’t stop being salty and light can’t stop shining, we’re called to live our faith everyday “out loud and on purpose.” That means not hiding our light under a basket of fear, complacency, or convenience.

Jesus’ call to be salt and light is a challenge that comes with a promise. It’s a challenge because it requires a little courage sometimes to stand out in a world that often rejects the Gospel. It’s also a promise that our efforts, even though sometimes small, have eternal consequences.

But this is interesting: When salt and light do their job they generally go unnoticed. People don’t praise the salt in the soup, or the bulb in the lamp. When those things are there, doing what they are supposed to do, you don’t notice them. Their purpose, their presence simply improves the world they influence. Even if it is just salt in the soup, or light in the living room. That’s how we should live our lives, drawing attention to God not to ourselves.

When you read about the completion of the Tabernacle on Wednesday in Exodus 40 you’ll see that. There are books written on this subject, so we can’t dig into all of it, but the Tabernacle was very much like that. It was the place where God’s glory filled the place, but on the outside the Tabernacle looks very plain and ordinary. The Tabernacle was not the source it was the place. Like the tabernacle, we are called to be living representations of His presence, re-shining His light to the world. We’re not the source, we are the place where He shines.

V. Conclusion: Reflecting His Glory

Jesus’ words in the Gospel reading today are not just a command. They are a declaration of who we are in Him. We are salt and light because He has made us those things. This week I want you to think about how you can reflect His light and bring His “flavor” to the places you live and work. Where can you brighten someone’s day? How can you preserve the truth in what you say?

Someone once said, “Someone once said, ‘You may be the only Jesus someone ever sees.” As we live as salt and light, may others see Jesus in us and be drawn to Him, and to this house of God, where we learn more about Him each week. Let’s step out boldly knowing His light shines through us.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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