“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16 MSG
It couldn’t be any clearer than the way Jesus explained it. We are to be salt and light. As salt, we bring out the incredible savor and flavor of God in the world. As light, we bring out the God-colors in the world and dispel darkness. Every one of us is vital and significant.
One grain of salt is better than nothing, for the savor and flavor must start somewhere. One small candle on a light stand is a welcome difference to the dark, but the impact on the area is relatively small. On the other hand, putting a whole bunch of salt grains together dramatically alters the taste of a dish. I can’t tell you the many times a bland, disappointing hard-to-eat meal has transformed when I add some grains of salt that are hanging out together, and I mix them up in the dish. What one grain could not accomplish alone, they all did together.
In the same way, Jesus urges us to join our lights together like a city on a hill. You know how that works. If there’s a house with one light in the window on a dark road, it likely will give a little hope that someone is out there somewhere, but it’s not much good for providing direction and secure guidance. A city filled with people, living together in their homes on the hill, every dweller lighting up their windows with their own lights, is so exceptionally beautiful and commanding. The lights are gorgeous, guiding, and hope-giving from the road and from the sky.
Both of these are dramatic examples of what God plans for us to do as we each take our grain of salt and put it together with other grains. We restore flavor, inviting people to taste and see that God is good. When we work together as the Church, our many small lights are put up on a hill, and together we lead people home. What a privilege! We get out of the shaker into the world! We are that glowing city on a hill, attracting those in darkness! Nothing we will ever do will be more significant.
- Jesus, help me be part of the city on the hill. Help me join with other “salty people” to bring your flavor to the world. Show me what to do, and I will do it.