Matthew 5:13-16 – “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. ” NKJV

Darkness was still covering my patio as I sat there in the stillness of the early morning with my cup of coffee and Bible.  There seemed to be a special presence as nothing was stirring, and the thought of my devotional for today came out of that stillness today.  Thanks for the reminder, Lord.

This morning, God spoke to my heart regarding being Salt and Light in this world, not Light Salt or being light salt or lightly salted.  Some believers seem to have allowed themselves to become “light salt” to this world rather than Salt and Light!  Light Salt is not salt but an imitation designed to provide an artificial taste and has no preservative powers. God wants us to be both “flavor” to this world and be a “preservative” as well.

We are added to the mix of this world to bring Jesus into it, not to get lost in the mix as one of a multitude of differing religious views! We are to be light to point the way to Him, the only access to God! If we become so watered down that we only give a token representation of Him to the world around us, we become nothing more than “another option” when there is no other option. We become a delusion and part of the problem rather than presenting the solution, the hope, and the way.

I am not saying you have to be caustic in what you say and do, turning people off before you even get a chance to share the Good News with them.  I am not saying you go around judging people and turning them away before they have heard the message.  I am saying that you become One with Jesus to the point that when you walk into the room, He walks into the room with and in you!   You become so enmeshed with Him that your attitude is His attitude, your compassion is His compassion, and your love is His love expressed.

The idea is to Manifest Him, not just represent Him. He lives IN you; the Holy Spirit is With and IN you.  The Father’s presence is manifested through you. Your words, life, and actions speak volumes to those that you come in contact with. I have found that through the years in my own life and in the lives of others with whom I have worked and known, we have seen people turn to God not because we preached to them but because we lived before them. Our lives are epistles known and read by men.

Let your Light (Christ) shine before men so they may see the way! Let your life be Salt to bring the flavor of His Love and mercy into their presence and be the preservative to help them stand before Him after they have come to him. Let them see you day in and day out as the consistent expression of the Lord, and you will touch their hearts. You may only sow the seeds, another may water, but GOD will give the increase!

Be encouraged. You may not be the most eloquent speaker, but you do not have to be your life speaks louder than words. Just be Salt and Light in this world and watch the Lord take that and do wonders in the lives of the hurting, hungry, and dying. Today is your day to be a new flavor added to the mix of your surroundings – “The Jesus Flavor”– and light pointing to the Victory of the Cross.

Blessings as you go through your day!