You Have A Purpose!
April 6, 2022·Kristin Gentry
The portion of Scripture we’re focusing on today in our Pause Bible reading plan is from The Sermon on the Mount, the longest recorded sermon of Jesus, which He delivered at the very beginning of His ministry. Check it out:
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can youmake it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. Youare the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
What I love about these words of Jesus is that He states them before He has done the work of the Cross. Before He has even began His ministry, He is already stating the intrinsic value of those who would follow Him and the importance of our role as believers after His death and resurrection.
Jesus says, “YOU” are the salt of the earth. We already know salt can make our food taste better, but maybe you didn’t know it has other uses too. The way Jesus uses this description of salt is interesting, because especially during the time Jesus said these words, refrigerators and freezers didn’t exist. Salt played an important role in preserving fish and other meat. Salt has the ability to slow down the activity of water and prevents bacteria from spreading throughout the meat, causing it to spoil. For this reason, salt was also used as a form of antiseptic. It has the components necessary to be an anti-inflammatory and to kill certain bacteria.
This metaphor outlines our responsibility, as followers of Jesus. Like salt to food, we are to 1) bring out the goodness in this world, 2) live as examples of God’s goodness and to preserve the Truth of the Gospel, and 3) stand against the enemy and his work to destroy God’s creation.
Jesus then makes this statement, “But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again?” Jesus is saying, YOU have a divine purpose. Don’t be like dirt that just gets kicked around meaninglessly and trampled on. If you choose to live and operate in the way He has so creatively and specifically DESIGNED you, you’re going to change the world for His Glory.
Father, thank You for Your careful thought in creating each one of us. Help us to live out Your righteousness on this earth. Encourage us when we feel discouraged. Remind us often of the purpose we have in You, so the world will come to know You are God. We eagerly await Your return. Amen.
Pastor Kristin Gentry
