That night I finally learned something from bible study. Before this I didn't even pay attention or even considered what I was being taught to apply to my life. Interesting right? This message actually caught my attention and I want to share it with you.
So the message was from Matthew 5:13-20 and it's about Salt and Light.
Did you know that if you list out the functions and characteristics of salt and light... you can transfer it to applying to your life?
So you know that the functions and the characteristics of salt is...
- it was considered and it is still considered valuable
- it has been traded
- bitter
- can never loose it's saltiness
- preserve things and prevents things going bad
- soluable in water
- gives taste and brings out the flavor of other flavors
and light is...
- bright/penetrates darkness
- a necessity
- guides us where we go
- exposes what its in the dark
- shine everywhere
So this is what the text says
"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 me.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and 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."
quite short isn't? BUT you know you can get out a lot from this.
Progressively we have so many choices- that's a problem. Ironically we become more bounded rather living freely. How so? Like you know back in the day (1970a~80s) where there was one kind of pair of jeans you could just go in and out in a snap, when you look at it you can live freely from thinking too much you know? Whereas on the other hand in todays society we are given a variety of different kinds of jeans such as skinny, bootcut, fit, stretched jeans, etc. Since you are given more options then you would have to think about it more and you become more bounded in the store longer than you intend to.
Okay so Salt gives taste; you are the salt that gives taste~ therefore the world is bland. (think of like this... the world is like a saltless 설렁탕) This world has nothing to offer of what we need. Without Jesus it's just water. With Jesus it's wine-like aroma, taste and color. As a christian, one should bring in taste/flavor among others (Bland=boring=tasteless). We should be seasoned with this salt. Christians should be mysterious as in making your personality different~ outstanding, like something different from others, in a good way.
So in
Salt makes people thirsty. We should be the agent of making people thirsty. Though in the end that's only half of my work. It is God who finishes the rest by offering fresh water.
Salt is powerful because a small amount can give a big influence. A small amount needs to melt because it can really bring out the flavor.
Salt preserves. Because the world is rotten you are the one who should preserve it. Salt was such a powerful thing. People were given salt as their salary.
Salt can also used as medicine. The issue here is contamination. Why isn't our lives as salty? The reason is that we are contaminated with sin. "You guys are the key to this bland world. You, you alone is the salt of the earth. You, you alone is the light of the world."
Light exposes, penetrates, gives life, guides you.
Salt and light can be parallel. We should always ask ourselves " How bright does your light shine?" Well i know that for me, my light is not bright at all~ it's quite dim almost to the point of darkness. We all conform to the world too much. We should show the good deeds of christ to others. When do you think God would be pleased? It is when we are praised by others. What kind of life are you living in? Are you making a difference?