You are the light of the world

February 12, 2017
Michael Ngubane

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Sunday service, Michael Ngubane, 12 Feb 2017

Matt 5:13-16
13 “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 underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Everyone wants blessings. But Jesus makes it very clear what kind of people will be blessed. In the beatitudes we read what kind of people are blessed. Jesus taught His disciples and the multitudes on the mountain.

When He was born there was no place in the inn and He was born in a stable with the animals. When He preached and brought God’s word He didn’t have a splendid place to preach in with pomp but He brought this important message there on the mountain-side among the rocks and hills.
The heartbreaking thing is that having revealed the mysteries of heaven there are still those who close their hearts and God’s word find no entrance.
Never before and after Him anyone could bring God’s word with so much power. May there be no one in our midst who close their hearts to God’s word.

In this passage we read about salt and light. He said to His disciples that “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 underfoot.”

Here we find the function of salt and why it’s needed. Sometimes one finds coarse grains of salt and it’s even difficult to realise that it’s salt. At other times it’s packed in such fancy containers that it’s unclear that it’s salt. Salt is part of our daily lives. It gives taste to food. When salt is dissolved in food you cannot see it but it’s clear that it’s there when you taste it. But when salt loses its saltiness it has no use anymore and is thrown out and trampled.

Jesus here prepares His disciples for the task ahead. Even though they were few they were still the salt of the earth.

We cannot be salt if we haven’t been dealt with. How can we be salt and bring flavor where there is no flavor if we have no flavor in us. Take this message personally. Don’t apply it to others. You must bring forth good fruit.

The youth of SA is sick and many don’t even realise it. Recently they had the “fees must fall” campaign, which is still ongoing, and they burn down their own future.

If you are salt, how is it possible that you mix with those who are saltless? Have you lost your saltiness too?

We who are disciples of Jesus, have we lost our salt? Are people changed through our lives? Do we bring life to others? Do our words change people? When God’s word enters it separates light from darkness. If we are children of God it should be obvious that God is among us.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden. God’s people is a city on a hill that shines for others. What is the secret? We cannot be this light on our own. The secret is that we go to the One Who is the source of our light and life, Jesus Christ. If you’re connected to Him, your light will shine. A light bulb on its own cannot shine. It has to be connected to the electric source.

If your light is going dim then obviously there’s a problem with your connection to Jesus, the source of Light. There are those who shine through thick and thin, because they’re continually connected to the source, the Lord Jesus.

Is your heart full of bitterness or grudges? Then your light won’t shine. Even if you work in difficult circumstances let it be seen that you’re a city on a hill.

It’s said that we will be judged in accordance to what we’ve received. We who have received so much let’s not live like others lest we be judged severely. We must get off our laurels and let our light shine. If we want things to come right in SA let it come right in our lives first.

Let’s get rid of the works of the devil in our lives! There are people caught up by the things of Satan. You don’t fear God if you’re caught up in the things of Satan like pornography. If your light shines you won’t be busy with those things.

God’s light must shine in your own life first before it can bring light to others. If you’re lukewarm your light is hidden.