Sermon on the Mount
Salt and Light
This is a devotional written by Essie Laugharne.
Matthew 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.
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.
Reflection
Salt: The nature of salt is not only flavoursome in itself, it actually brings the beautiful
flavours out of food, what would it look like to be the kind of person who brought out the
best in others? Salt is healing, saltwater cleans out wounds, the oceans are a deep
fascination and place of peace for many people, what does it mean to bring peace and
healing with you wherever you go in life?
Light: Our human eyes are so amazingly wired to pick out the light from the darkness.
There is research to suggest the the human eye can see flashes of light consisting of just
a few photons. Vision scientists conclude that it is possible to see a glimmer of a candle
flame up to 30 miles away with the naked eye. When I was looking up at the stars at
Greenbelt festival recently and reflecting on the power of light against the darkness in this
world, I was struck by just how far that light from the stars had travelled to reach me, and
how much of a triumphant victory that really is over the black inky sky. Light always shines
through darkness, it’s the very essence of light. Sometimes I think we read this passage
and only think of our most shining big bonfire moments, and think that we can’t be that
person ALL the time, but actually we are called to be more like that candle, you never
know how far your light will shine, and when joining together in community as believers,
then we get to share the light, feed the flames and create a magnificent display of glory for
Jesus. This passage is ultimately a call to action "Let your light shine before others…"
Whether it’s concerns for asylum seekers, climate change, victims of abuse and/or many
of the other horrors of this world, we must hold to the knowledge that Jesus is the light of
the world, the flame of the Holy Spirit that descended upon the disciples also lives within
us, therefore we can and must shine light into the darkness. But we can also seek peace
in the knowledge that darkness has already lost, the evidence can be seen in the shaft of
light through the curtains illuminating your bedroom at night.
Prayer: Lord let my words and actions bring out the flavour of goodness in people today.
Let me feel confident that you are with me, and therefore I can be bold and shine my light
to the world for your glory, fighting back the darkness and pointing people to the source of my light that is in you.
flavours out of food, what would it look like to be the kind of person who brought out the
best in others? Salt is healing, saltwater cleans out wounds, the oceans are a deep
fascination and place of peace for many people, what does it mean to bring peace and
healing with you wherever you go in life?
Light: Our human eyes are so amazingly wired to pick out the light from the darkness.
There is research to suggest the the human eye can see flashes of light consisting of just
a few photons. Vision scientists conclude that it is possible to see a glimmer of a candle
flame up to 30 miles away with the naked eye. When I was looking up at the stars at
Greenbelt festival recently and reflecting on the power of light against the darkness in this
world, I was struck by just how far that light from the stars had travelled to reach me, and
how much of a triumphant victory that really is over the black inky sky. Light always shines
through darkness, it’s the very essence of light. Sometimes I think we read this passage
and only think of our most shining big bonfire moments, and think that we can’t be that
person ALL the time, but actually we are called to be more like that candle, you never
know how far your light will shine, and when joining together in community as believers,
then we get to share the light, feed the flames and create a magnificent display of glory for
Jesus. This passage is ultimately a call to action "Let your light shine before others…"
Whether it’s concerns for asylum seekers, climate change, victims of abuse and/or many
of the other horrors of this world, we must hold to the knowledge that Jesus is the light of
the world, the flame of the Holy Spirit that descended upon the disciples also lives within
us, therefore we can and must shine light into the darkness. But we can also seek peace
in the knowledge that darkness has already lost, the evidence can be seen in the shaft of
light through the curtains illuminating your bedroom at night.
Prayer: Lord let my words and actions bring out the flavour of goodness in people today.
Let me feel confident that you are with me, and therefore I can be bold and shine my light
to the world for your glory, fighting back the darkness and pointing people to the source of my light that is in you.
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