In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus says these words:
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore except to be thrown out and trampled under the foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Men don't light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, for they put in on a lamp stand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Two of the most frequently used metaphors in Scripture to describe what Christians ought to do and be as they walk around in their world are the metaphors of salt and light.
You'll remember from some series we've done in years past that the passage preceding this salt-and-light passage is called the Beatitudes. That's where Jesus looked at his followers and said, "I want to describe to you how you ought to behave and what your attitudes ought to be in the family."
That's when he said these famous words: "I hope that there is a poorness in spirit in the family' -- which means a humility, an awareness of the need for grace. 'I hope you act poor in spirit toward each other. I hope you have the ability to mourn -- mourn over sin, mourn over sadness.
"I hope you can meet each other at the points of sadness in the family. I hope there is a gentleness and a kindness that sweeps over the family. I hope there is a hunger and thirst for righteousness in the family. I hope there is a pureness of heart in the family. I hope there are peacemakers in the family -- people who take reconciliation seriously. I hope there is courage in the family."
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