GodSprings - 08, March, 2017

What is my Message?

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

Woodrow Wilson, the 28^th President of the United States of America in his book, On Being Human shares the following story. He says, “ I was in a very common place. I was sitting in a barber chair when I became aware that a personality had entered the room. A man had come quietly in upon the same errand as myself, to have a haircut, and sat in the chair next to me. Every word the man uttered, though it was not in the least didactic, showed a personal interest in the man who was serving him. And before I got through with what was being done for me, I was aware that I had attended an evangelistic service, because, Mr. D.L. Moody was in that chair.” He further says, “I purposely lingered in the room after he had left and noted the singular effect that his visit had brought upon the barber shop. They talked in undertones. They didn’t know his name. But they knew that something had elevated their thoughts. And I felt that I had left that place as I should have left the place of worship. My admiration and esteem for Mr. Moody became very deep indeed.”

What is the message that I leave to this world? When I pass by what is it that I am saying? Every human being does leave something to the world – negative or positive.

When Jesus speaks about being salt and light of the earth he is talking about influencing the world. He says this after sharing the attitudes and qualities that a disciple of his should have. When a disciple is characterized by the Beatitude kind of life you naturally become an influence to this world.

It is not easy to influence since you are different from the world. But Jesus says that you have to be salt in order to be effective and light in order to dispel darkness.

Mat. 5:10-12 shows the attitude of the world toward the believer and in the read portion we see the attitude of the believer to the world. The world is going to hate you, but you still have to be salt and light to influence them.

Both salt and light is unlike the medium in which it is place. We cannot be a part of the evil system. We are to be examples of purity and flavour the world.

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.”

Reading this was a throwback to me. Being a priest in the Mar Thoma Church, for 6 years have I been able to be salt and light to any?

I don’t think we need to do something exceptional for that. But we need to do what we are made to do. God always uses simple and humble things. When God made human, He made it with dirt and not gold or silver. When He called David to deliver the Israelites, it was not the flashing sword that was used but small pebbles.

This Lenten season Jesus reminds us don’t underestimate your value. You have a great role to play. Be as simple as salt and light. But don’t lose the saltiness and don’t hide yourselves. Let your influence be felt and seen.

This Lenten season we need to ask ourselves, what happens when we walk by? Are we able to influence others by our life and behaviour?