Salt of the Earth, Part 1

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17 NKJV

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. Acts 1:1 NKJV

You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:13-14 AMP

Truth does not hop around on one foot. It walks forward on two strong, well balanced legs. Jesus taught the truth and lived the truth. He never placed what He did above what He said. Jesus spoke as He heard the Father speak (John 17:8, 8:28) and Jesus did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). Luke, in the books of Acts, reminds us of these two things by stating that his writings focused on both what Jesus did and what Jesus said.

Sometimes we can put an emphasis on “doing” and make that the most important thing, and sometimes we can put the emphasis on “teaching” and make that the most important thing. One of these truths must never be emphasized at the expense of the other. As believers in Christ we are called to live the Gospel and preach the Gospel; demonstrate the Kingdom and proclaim the Kingdom; do good works and teach good doctrine; live a life of love and speak the truth in love.

In Matthew 5:13-14 Jesus tells His disciples that they are both the salt of the earth and the light of the world. They were not told that some of them were salt and some were light, or that they should choose to be one or the other. Jesus stated that they were both salt and light, even though there is a great difference between the two. The difference between salt and light is significant. Jesus used salt and light as metaphors to help the disciples understand the importance of both their actions and their words.

When Jesus said to His disciples that they were “the light of the world” He was speaking about the power and impact of their actions upon the lives of others. When Jesus called the disciples “the salt of the earth” He was speaking about the power and impact of their words upon the lives of others. His message was that both through their actions and their words the Father would be glorified.

As the “the light of the world” we have a message to live, and as “the salt of the earth” we have a message to give; we have something people need to see and hear. Jesus wants to work though us with deeds that need to done and words that need to be spoken into the hearts and lives of others so that the Father will be glorified.

 
In the next posting we will take a closer look at what it means to be “the salt of the earth”.

Comments

[Rick V.W.]

This is the clearest explanation of 'light & salt' I have seen. Our actions should always match our words. And each should always glorify the Word of God. This is a great message!