Matthew 5:13-16 Common English Bible (CEB)

Salt and light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. 14 You are the . A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.

Galatians 5:16-18 Common English Bible (CEB)

Two different ways of living

16 I say be guided by the Spirit and you won’t carry out your selfish desires. 17 A person’s selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one’s selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn’t do whatever you want to do. 18 But if you are being led by the Spirit, you aren’t under the Law.

More Salt Please

Jesus calls His followers to be the "salt of the earth." What does this really mean? Today, we are thinking about what it is to be salt; examining the characteristics of salt and asking if these are hallmarks of our Christian walk.

The first thing I want us to think about is that we add salt to food because it brings out or adds flavor. I find it very difficult to eat certain foods without salt. Popcorn, chips, steak, any kind of eggs: the list goes on! Salt has many different characteristics and can be used in many ways. It actually changes things. You know as I talk about salt, I want you to think about how it impacts things around it.

When we think about using it on food it improves or enhances the taste. I recently was given a pellet smoker for Fathers’ Day. One of the things that you do before you just slap the meat on grill is that you have to prepare the meat. One of the key ingredients to either brining the meat or seasoning the meat by rubbing it, is salt. Actually, adding salt to the exterior of a piece of meat draws out the moisture in the meat. The salt then dissolves in this moisture, creating a brine that is then re-absorbed back into the meat. In this process, the lean muscle proteins in the meat are broken down, made juicier and more tender. All thanks to salt! Salt makes a change in the meat and makes it more pleasant to eat. Now obviously is not wanting us to be more pleasant to eat, he wants us to be able to share and show His love by being a life changer to those that we come in contact with!

The next quality of salt is one that we don’t really use too much today – salt the preservative. In previous ages, salt was used to keep meat from going rotten. Many cultures still use salt in this way.

Likewise, our lives are to show a different way of living and direct people to Our Savior, Jesus Christ. The hope and love of God is enough to keep the lives of those we meet from going rotten and bad. Even more the grace of God is enough to transform even the worst of sinners. Jesus calls upon us to be the salt that shares the word and disciple to those that are lost, hurting, alone or afraid.

It is true of course that often when salt is used to bring about change, it can also be invisible. When we cook and sprinkle salt on boiling potatoes or in the water with some boiling pasta, for instance, it makes an impact but is instantly invisible after you add it.

We need to understand that often the difference we make as Christians in this world is slight and almost invisible in our eyes; but can bring about great or large change in other’s lives.

Elaine the girls and I have a habit of trying to always say grace all heads bowed when we are at restaurants. How many are challenged to see that faith is alive and well because of such a simple thing?

A smile, a comforting shoulder to cry upon, a faltering hesitating witness to Jesus – you and I have no idea how much God can use our insecurities and clumsiness to bring glory to His name and salvation to others.

Equally when we refuse to swear when others do; or are courteous when forced to wait at the Post Office or return our shopping carts to the space provided at the supermarket. We are salt and we would be wise to remember that even these simple tasks change the climate around us; invisibly, miraculously.

You know what the last characteristic of salt I came up with is? Well why do you think that some restaurants and bars place free salted peanuts out for you to munch on? Right, because salt makes us thirsty!

Those retailers are on to something you know. Once someone has tasted salt, they develop a thirst and I think that is what God does through us too. As we live our lives in this world, others around us will develop a thirst. They will see the reality of Jesus in us, at least they will if we allow them to see the genuineness of our relationship and the way God has changed and is changing you and me. Such a testimony transforms others. The greatest witnesses we see are when people are going through hardship and pain; yet the presence of Christ burns through. The hope and faith we see in people like this is incredible. It also makes you thirsty; for seeing God at work in others and this causes others to want to taste and see that Jesus really is that good.

Do the people around you sense something special in your life and thirst to know what it is and if not, why not?

The absolutely most important thing about salt is this though – it does nothing if it is kept locked away in the salt cellar.

As Church people, we are called to be salt in this world. Yet if the only contact we ever have with others is with Christian people, then the salt will be wasted. If the chips you buy are already salted, you don’t need to add more. We need to take this salt, this distinctiveness out into our community. To those who do not yet understand and do not yet know. If we refuse to talk to those who are far off from the standards of the Church, how will they ever hear the good news?

I hope and pray you are up to this challenge to be salt. But for heaven’s sake; for Jesus sake, do it here in our community and in the World, not locked up inside Calvary United Methodist Church.

As I was thinking about change and preparing for the today. I found the word astonished coming up in scriptures when God would do amazing things.

That word astonished, I wish that it was not a word that would still be used to describe Christians today. Whenever we witness God moving, we are probably much more surprised than real believers should be.

If we hear of a person that receives a physical healing, what is our real response?

How about when the news reports about a convicted felon on death row that speaks of new-found faith?

Do we really believe that God Changes things? People, Situations, Lives

You know, for the number of people that say that they hate change; we live in a very changing world.

The only thing that really does not change is God.

In Jeremiah 29:11-13 God explains,

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Change in this world is total and constant. None of us can avoid being affected by the change around us. But it is all in God’s plan. The plans he has for us, the changes are for our good. The changes offer us hope and if we have any doubts, we can pray to God and he will listen.

If we are having trouble with the changes in our lives, we can go to him and share what is on our hearts and He will listen.

God is the unchanging constant in our changing world. We can’t get totally away from our situation. But we can be open to the change that God intends. Changes in our community, changes in our families, changes in how we understand God.

We can be willing to remain open minded in unexpected situations.

We can purposely not let our astonishment keep us from responding to the changes that God brings about.

As I think of the ways that the world has changed just in the last few months it can be scary and daunting. Even the simplest things like a greeting of a handshake or an embrace have now become awkward. But hear the good news this is all in Gods plan. He still is calling us to be the salt and to help to change lives and build his Kingdom here on Earth.

Calvary is just beginning to find new ways to make an impact for Christ and continuing to build on others that we have been doing. We have done online services with Zoom. We are planning to record both services as outreach to our community and the world. We have brought on Ginger Booker to tackle our outreach with social media and develop new ways to reach others for Christ. Amy Davis has worked with families and provided food to those in need with donations from Calvary and other families.

We are still working with Redemption House, In as much, Java, Waynedale food pantry, and many others. As we look towards our future role in this community that we serve we need to continue to develop new ways in this ever-changing world to reach those around us.

As Calvary Church, the Gospel calls us to be salt in the world and in our community – calls us to bring out the goodness; calls us to bring the Christ-like character God has stamped on our hearts, and to bring this into our church family, our Community and our World.

God is calling us to examine whether we are not spending enough time in the world and in our community. And, how can we do this in new ways? If we are just salt together, then we are defeating the purpose of God in our lives. So, let’s continue to build on the ways we are reaching people and get out into our community and this world, as strange, unchristian and bad as it can be, because God calls us, and we are the salt.

I would like to read the words of this song about salt and light to you before we listen to it.

Salt and Light by Jami Smith

You make me want to be like You Your holiness I will pursue I want the heart of Jesus Show me the meaning of Your grace I want to give the world a taste Of the love of Jesus

Make me salt Make me light Let Your holy fire ignite Reveal Your glory in my life I am not ashamed To lift up Your holy name Make me salt Make me light

As a city on a hill A lamp on a stand Mold me in Your image The work of Your hand