How has it gone this week? How have you been salt and light? What opportunities has God given you to show a kindness, end a gossipy conversation, offer help, share your faith...?
Today we finish in our devotionals based upon our being salt and light.
Definition: To be salt and light is to influence the world for good through our example, loving challenge and sharing the gospel.
I guess that we could all miss being salt and light if we dismiss what we can achieve and discount the effect of our influence on others. We will never get in the race if we don’t believe we can run! We wonder, ‘What difference can little old me make in this big world?!’ For Christians, we are not to be only interested in making a ‘big bang’. We don’t fall for the ‘go big or go home’ nonsense.
Loving obedience and service in small ways are of the greatest value if that’s what the Father has given you. We are called to be salt and light in the details of our lives. Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Extract from Matthew 5:13-16)
Do you see the promises here? Those who will be salt and light where they are “cannot be hidden”! They “give light to everyone” around them. People will ‘see your good deeds and glorify your Father’.
RESPONSE
Do you value doing small things to the glory of God? Jesus wants to see us ‘faithful in the small things’ (Luke 16:10). Let’s entrust the immense scale of all the problems and people in this world to God; you are called to be salt and light in the details of your life. Jesus has made a promise that if we will be faithful, people’s lives will be transformed,
“They may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY - YOU ARE THE SALT...THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Suggested opener/Ice-breaker
How, in the last week, have you been able to be salt and light, or, if you're brave, would you like to share how you failed to be salt and light?
Introduction - please share in your group
This week we are looking at what it means to be salt and light.
The health of a family, friendships, neighbourhood, workplace, nation... is linked to the health of its church and her members! The appalling immortality that is growing in this nation is partly due to the church being tasteless and dark when she should be salt and light. Jesus said,
“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. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)